United Airlines is launching an investigation after a video of Hensley Meulens sitting in one of the pilots’ seats during a Colorado Rockies team charter flight from Denver to Toronto was shared on Instagram. The Federal Aviation Administration is also looking into the incident, which violated company policy and FAA regulations.
Meulens, 56, who joined the Rockies as their hitting coach in Nov. 2022 after coaching stints with several MLB teams and playing experience in Japan and Korea between 1989-2000, was deeply disturbed by the footage. The airline stated that it was a clear violation of safety and operational policies. The pilots were grounded pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Rockies had just completed a homestand before embarking on a road trip to Toronto when the incident occurred. United Airlines has not yet commented on how Meulens gained access to the cockpit or if any disciplinary action will be taken against him.
