Pilot Loses Gun In Waiting Area Mixup

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The TSA is investigating after a passenger mistakenly picked up a bag holding a gun belonging to a Federal Flight Deck Officer at New York’s JFK Airport on Thursday. Michael Connery Jr., a first officer for JetBlue, was waiting to board the aircraft he was to help fly to Pittsburgh and set his bag next to Rachel Hazan’s. Hazan was also waiting for a JetBlue flight to West Palm Beach. Hazan was traveling with her parents and her two children and when it was time to board, she scooped up everything, including Connery’s bag, and the 40-caliber handgun inside, and carried it onto her flight. Things soon got more complicated for both of them, but especially for Connery.

Once in the airplane, Hazan realized her mistake, but according to the NY Daily News, she responded to it by leaving Connery’s bag on an empty seat. Meanwhile, Connery was beginning his search and waited nearly 40 minutes before he reported his lapse to his employer. Fortunately, a passenger other than Hazan notified a flight attendant of the unattended bag. Connery’s identification was inside, the handgun was deeper inside, and the bag was returned to him. Both flights were delayed and Connery was replaced on his. The TSA has now confiscated Connery’s gun and is reportedly considering the future of his participation in the Flight Deck Officer program.

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