Feds Drag Delta Co-Pilot Off Plane for Alleged Child Exploitation Crimes [WATCH]

A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was arrested by federal agents at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Saturday night on charges related to child sexual abuse material, according to a senior federal official who confirmed the arrest to Fox News.

The arrest, carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), occurred shortly after Delta Flight 970 from Minneapolis landed at SFO around 9:35 p.m., following two delays on approach caused by heavy fog.

The incident was first reported by The San Francisco Chronicle and later corroborated by video footage posted by aviation blog “A View From the Wing.”

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As passengers began deplaning from the flight, a coordinated group of law enforcement agents approached the aircraft.

One passenger, Sarah Christianson, described the moment in an email to The Chronicle, stating that approximately 10 individuals wearing “badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings” quickly made their way to the front of the plane.

Christianson told the outlet that the agents “stormed the cockpit” where the co-pilot was located and then escorted him off the aircraft via cabin doors located between the Coach and First-Class sections.

Video footage shared online shows law enforcement officials leaving the cockpit area and proceeding down the aisle with the co-pilot in custody.

🚨 BREAKING: A Delta pilot has been ARRESTED at San Francisco International on charges of Child S-xuaI Abuse Material, per Fox

Witnesses say at least TEN DHS agents bordered the plane as soon as it parked at the gate and took the pilot into custody.

GREAT WORK, DHS! pic.twitter.com/GiHkwf56e3

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 27, 2025

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The man’s identity has not yet been released by authorities.

The arrest was conducted without incident, and there were no reports of injuries or disruptions to the remaining passengers or crew.

The exact nature of the allegations and the timeline of the investigation have not been made public as of Monday morning.

Homeland Security Investigations is the lead agency involved in the case. HSI has jurisdiction over crimes related to child exploitation, among other federal offenses.

A spokesperson for the agency has not released additional details about the ongoing investigation.

FOX Business contacted Delta Air Lines regarding the arrest. A spokesperson for the airline declined to comment and referred all inquiries to law enforcement authorities.

The co-pilot was removed from the aircraft and taken into federal custody for processing.

It remains unclear whether the pilot was aware of the investigation or arrest warrant prior to the flight.

There is no indication that the co-pilot posed any immediate threat to passengers or the safety of the flight itself.

As of publication, no federal charging documents have been released, and the name of the co-pilot has not been publicly disclosed by either HSI or the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Delta Air Lines has not released an official statement on the matter beyond deferring all questions to investigators.

The company’s employee vetting procedures, as well as any potential internal investigations, were not addressed in the limited response provided.

The investigation remains ongoing. Federal authorities have not provided a timeline for when further details, including the identity of the co-pilot and the nature of the charges, will be made available to the public.