A Delta Airlines pilot was arrested by federal agents shortly after landing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Saturday night, sparking confusion among passengers and crew.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m., just as the flight had arrived and passengers were preparing to disembark. Eyewitnesses say no fewer than 10 federal agents, including officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), boarded the aircraft and took the pilot into custody.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identity of the pilot or the reason for the arrest. According to a passenger, Sarah Christianson, who spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle, the sudden development caught both passengers and crew by surprise.
“The second pilot came on the intercom and said he had no idea what had just happened,” Christianson said.
Following the arrest, law enforcement officials were seen removing the detained pilot’s belongings from the aircraft.
As of the time of this report, it remains unclear whether the arrest is related to the pilot’s immigration status or another issue. Delta Airlines and federal authorities have yet to issue official statements regarding the incident.
The flight proceeded without further incident, and all passengers were safely deplaned.
This is a developing story.
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