US Airways pilot put on leave after in-flight gun incident

— -- The US Airways pilot whose gun discharged in-flight is on leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the company and federal authorities.

The incident on a Denver to Charlotte, flight Saturdaywas the first of its kind since a federal program allowing pilots to carry guns began after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Officials with the Tempe-based airline aren't providing details about the incident on Flight 1536 except to say the pilot's gun accidentally discharged and no one was injured. The plane has been removed from service.

US Airways spokesman Philip Geedid not disclose the pilot's name or base. Given the route, and the fact that the flight operations of US Airways and America West aren't yet merged despite their merger in 2005, he is based on the East Coast, not Phoenix.

The Transportation Security Administration began investigating as soon as the plane landed, spokesman Dwayne Baird said. He said it is working in tandem with US Airways and said the FBI likely will be involved.

"There will be lots of facets of this investigation to determine the cause," he said. "They're going to interview everyone that was involved, everyone that was aware of it."

Baird said it was his understanding passengers on the flight were unaware of the incident.

Even though security officials are handling the investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration also will want to inspect the plane, spokesman Ian Gregor said.

"We'd probably want to take a look at the plane at some point and make sure that the bullet didn't cause any harm to it," such as piercing the fuselage or affecting any critical systems, Gregor said.

Pilots are authorized to carry guns under the TSA's Federal Flight Deck Officer program. They must complete a one-week training program in New Mexico, among other steps, to get licensed. The website for the program says officers are trained on "the use of firearms, use of force, legal issues, defensive tactics, the psychology of survival and program standard operating procedures." They are not paid for participation in the program.

They are also required to pass biannual firearms re-qualification activities on their own time and at their own expense.

Participating pilots are only allowed to disengage the locking device on the government-issued gun when they are in the cockpit with the door closed, pilots say.

Baird would not disclose how many pilots are licensed, saying it was classified information.

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