Passengers on a Frontier Airlines flight experienced an unexpected delay on Saturday when pilot Seymour Walker, 45, was arrested aboard the aircraft before its departure from George Bush Intercontinental Airport. According to CBS News, Walker was apprehended by Houston police on an assault charge involving family violence.
The arrest took place around 4 p.m., just as passengers were boarding Flight 3195 to Dallas. Law enforcement officials waited until all passengers had deplaned before taking Walker into custody without incident.
Frontier Airlines acknowledged the disruption and the subsequent flight cancellation. “The activity occurred prior to the start of boarding for Flight 3195 scheduled from IAH to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). A replacement crew member was not immediately available and therefore the flight was canceled,” the airline said in a statement.
Passengers on the canceled flight were given the option of a full refund, a credit for future travel, or a seat on the next available flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also investigating the incident. “Airlines report incidents such as this to the FAA office that oversees them, and we investigate all pilot-related issues,” the FAA stated.
