Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan J. Dunn has been indicted for allegedly threatening to shoot a commercial airline captain during a flight in August 2022. The incident came to light in a filing by the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office, which requested a delay in Dunn’s arraignment to allow for his return from overseas military duty. Dunn, who was relieved of command for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, is charged with interfering with a flight crew.
According to the Transportation Department’s inspector general, Dunn’s alleged threat occurred during a disagreement over whether to divert the flight to address a passenger’s medical issue. Following the incident, Dunn was sent to Ramstein Air Base in Germany for training at the 603rd Air Operations Center. The Air Force has suspended his access to sensitive information and the air operations center.
Dunn, who previously flew for Delta Air Lines, no longer works for the company, and his authority to carry a gun on board has been revoked. He had previously sued the Pentagon to prevent disciplinary action for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, citing religious objections and previous infection with the virus. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider his case.
Dunn’s indictment on charges of interfering with a flight crew carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. An arraignment is scheduled for November 16. The reasons for the delay in issuing the indictment, more than a year after the incident, remain unclear.
