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SALT LAKE CITY — A former Delta co-pilot from South Dakota pleaded not guilty to interfering with a flight crew when he appeared in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City on Thursday.
Jonathan J. Dunn, 42, is accused of threatening to shoot the flight's captain during a flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City on Aug. 22, 2022.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah said a passenger had a medical issue during the flight and the captain advised Dunn that the flight could be diverted to Grand Junction, Colorado, if the medical condition worsened.
"Dunn objected to the contingency plan and described in substantial detail how he would shoot the captain multiple times for 'going crazy,'" according to federal prosecutors, who also said Dunn said he would have to shoot all of his rounds to stop the captain from twitching.
Dunn's attorney, John W. Huber, who was once Utah's top federal prosecutor, tried to characterize the altercation as "a misunderstanding," while prosecutors described it as a "grave offense."
Dunn was authorized by TSA to carry a firearm onto the flight deck for security. He is a former federal flight deck officer and Delta Airlines first officer. The TSA has since revoked that authority, and Delta says Dunn no longer works for the airline.
The program authorizing some pilots to carry guns on domestic flights emerged as a security measure after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, said Ross Aimer, an aviation expert and the CEO of Aero Consulting Experts. After the government realized it would be too expensive to have an air marshal on every flight, it allowed pilots such as Dunn to volunteer for a training program to become federal flight deck officers.
Dunn acknowledged threatening the captain but said his remarks were intended as a joke, according to new court documents detailing the altercation. The captain did not perceive the threats as a joke and told authorities that he was concerned Dunn would use his firearm to "relieve" him of command of the aircraft.
Huber argued Thursday that he should not be considered dangerous, reminding the judge that his client has no criminal history.
The new court documents reveal that Dunn, of Rapid City, seemed to recognize the gravity of his actions, telling Delta officials, "This could have been much worse. In hindsight if I had been threatened, I would not be able to operate."
The altercation occurred on the last leg of a three-day cross-country rotation that Dunn and the captain completed together. The captain reported having problems with Dunn questioning his decisions throughout the entire rotation and attempting to be, what he called a "right-seat captain."
Dunn is an Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel who was demoted from his previous position for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The Air Force suspended his access to sensitive information and to the air operations center because of the midflight altercation, a spokesperson said.
At the time the indictment was filed, on Oct. 18, Dunn was serving overseas with the Air Force, prosecutors said.
The case was scheduled for a trial on March 12. If convicted, Dunn could face up to 20 years in prison.
The judge outlined conditions that would allow Dunn to return home before the trial — prompting him to turn and smile at his wife and four young children.
Bennett instructed Dunn to remain at his current residence — he has been living at his in-laws' house in South Dakota — and to surrender his passport as well as any firearms. He cannot access guns before the trial or contact any witnesses in the case.
