ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A pilot's gun is missing from a plane in Orlando, Fla., AirTran Airways said.
The captain, who is also a federal flight deck officer armed to defend planes against hijacking, was about take off from Orlando International Airport Tuesday evening when he found that a bag containing his gun was missing, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
He immediately reported his bag missing, and local authorities assisted with the search.
The passengers were removed and screened before the plane was cleared to depart, AirTran said.
The FBI said it is investigating the incident.
Federal flight deck officers are pilots, flight engineers and navigators trained by the Federal Air Marshal Service "to use firearms to defend against an act of criminal violence or air piracy attempting to gain control of an aircraft," according to the Transportation Safety Authority's Web site.
UPI
