The Colorado Rockies hitting coach, Hensley Meulens, has landed in hot water after being seen in a video that was shared on Instagram sitting in one of the pilots’ seats during a team charter flight from Denver to Toronto. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The video, which was posted by Meulens himself, showed him joking about landing the plane while inside the flight deck. This is a clear violation of both United Airlines’ safety and operational policies as well as FAA regulations. The airline has expressed deep concern over the video and has suspended the pilots involved pending an investigation into the incident.
Meulens, 56, who was hired by the Rockies in 2022 as their hitting coach, has had a storied career in baseball. Prior to his current role, he coached for several Major League Baseball teams including the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. He also played for two MLB teams and in Japan and Korea between 1989-2000.
United Airlines has stated that they take all safety concerns seriously and are working closely with the FAA to investigate this matter further. It remains to be seen what consequences Meulens will face for his actions but it is clear that this incident will have long-lasting effects on his reputation as well as those of the pilots involved.