The US airways pilot whose gun accidentally discharged just before landing might not really be to blame for the incident, according to an airline pilot association.
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The Airline Pilots Security Alliance says that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) has not adopted safety measures recommended by the Federal Air Marshal Service. Apparently, the pilot was following rules by securing the gun before he left the cockpit. In the process the gun was discharged. None of the 124 passengers and five crew members on board were hurt, but the bullet did manage to make an exit hole just below the cockpit window.
Pilots are required to lock the gun up before opening the cockpit door. This means that they handle the weapon approximately 10 times during the course of the flight. Add to that the fact that they’re flying a plane at high altitudes sometimes in the dark while trying to padlock the gun at the same time, and you have all the possibilities for a potentially dangerous incident.
According to the Airline Pilots Security Alliance they have brought the problems with this rule to the attention of the TSA, but have met with no response.
So, pilots are required to balance a loaded gun on their lap as they are landing a plane, maybe at night, or in poor visibility? Phew. That’s comforting.