United Airlines pilot dumped bullets on board plane
Transportation Security Administration officials and United Airlines are investigating a pilot who tossed bullets in an onboard trash bin which passengers had access to.
The bullets were then found by a flight attendant who then alerted the captain.
The pilot then flushed the bullets down the toilet as the flight was travelling to Germany which has strict anti-gun laws.
United spokeswoman Karen May explained the pilot is permitted to carry a gun on domestic flights under a federal rule brought in after 9/11 to safeguard the cockpit from hijackers.
The pilot did not carry his gun on Houston-Munich flight, May said, but he realised during the journey there was ammunition still in his bag.
When the pilot realised the flight attendant was going to report the incident of the discarded bullets in the trash bin, he informed the German authorities before landing.
"He did incorrectly dispose of the ammunition but it is likely that the pilot is not going to face any criminal charges," May said.
The pilot has not been fired and the airline did not disclose if he had been grounded while the investigation takes place.
"I can’t give any details about his status other than he is still with us," it said.
On arrival the plane was taken to a secure area on the tarmac while waste tanks were emptied to recover the 10 bullets.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt