Frontier Airlines pilot arrested and escorted off aircraft by police in Houston
Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
- Police arrested a Frontier Airlines pilot on board an aircraft in Houston on Thursday.
- Video footage circulating on social media appears to show police escorting the pilot off the plane.
- Frontier said the incident occurred before customers boarded the aircraft.
Police arrested a Frontier Airlines pilot on board an aircraft in Houston on Thursday, the airline confirmed in a statement to Business Insider.
In the statement, a Frontier spokesperson said: "Frontier Airlines can confirm that on Aug. 1, 2024, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH) a crew member was taken into custody by local law enforcement."
"The activity occurred prior to the start of boarding for Flight 3195 scheduled from IAH to Dallas Forth Worth (DFW)," it continued. "A replacement crew member was not immediately available and therefore the flight was canceled. Impacted customers were offered the option of a full refund, credit, or re-accommodation on the next available Frontier flight later that evening."
The airline added that affected passengers were given a $100 flight voucher and overnight accommodations "as needed."
Video footage emerged on Saturday morning appearing to show police escorting the pilot off of the plane.
Footage shared on X appeared to show the pilot in handcuffs as he walked down a flight of stairs attached to a jet bridge. He is then taken to a police vehicle.
Other than not wearing his pilot "stripes" on his shoulders, he appears to be in the standard Frontier Airlines pilots' uniform.
It is unclear why he was taken into custody.
The Houston Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.