A Frontier Airlines pilot was apprehended by Houston police at George Bush Intercontinental Airport last Thursday. The 45-year-old pilot, identified as Seymour Walker, was taken into custody on the grounds of an assault-family violence warrant. The arrest took place on the aircraft, which was preparing to depart for Dallas-Fort Worth. The warrant was issued by the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Department of Public Safety.
The incident was captured on video, showing Walker being led off the plane in handcuffs and escorted to a police car parked on the tarmac. The details surrounding the charges of assault-family violence against Walker were not immediately disclosed.
At the time of Walker’s arrest, no passengers were on board the plane. However, the subsequent flight that was scheduled to use the same aircraft was canceled. Authorities stated that they waited for the plane to land at the Houston airport around 4 p.m. before making the arrest. Walker was taken into custody without any incident after the passengers from the initial flight had deplaned, according to police reports.
The video footage of the arrest shows Walker being led off the plane with his hands cuffed behind his back. Several officers can be seen guiding him to a police car parked nearby on the tarmac.
Frontier Airlines confirmed the incident, stating that it occurred before the boarding process for Flight 3195, scheduled from Houston to Dallas Forth Worth, had begun. Due to the unavailability of a replacement crew member, the flight had to be canceled. Passengers on the canceled flight were offered a full refund, credit, or a spot on the next available Frontier flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also commented on the incident, stating that airlines are required to report such incidents to the FAA office overseeing them. The FAA investigates all pilot-related issues, according to their statement.