News/Commentary

Unsuspecting Delta pilot becomes victim of FBI mock interrogation exercise that goes terribly wrong: report

April 6, 2023 | | Print Article

An FBI and Department of Defense (DOD) training exercise ended in an epic fail after agents from both agencies burst into the wrong hotel room in the middle of the night, handcuffed a sleeping Delta Air Lines pilot, interrogated him for more than 45 minutes, and placed him into the shower.

According to WBZ-TV sources, it was all part of a mock investigation training exercise that went terribly wrong.


(Video: YouTube)

As the unsuspecting pilot was sleeping, late on Tuesday night, FBI and DOD agents banged on the door to Room 1505 of Boston’s Revere Hotel and demanded they be let in.

When the hotel guest opened the door, they quickly handcuffed him and began grilling him — all part of their training for a DOD deployment.

It took nearly an hour before the agents realized they were sent to the wrong room and uncuffed the pilot.

Boston police were called to the scene after hotel security was notified. EMS also responded, but the hotel guest refused medical treatment.

In a statement to WBZ, the FBI admitted their mistake.

“At approximately 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the FBI Boston Division was assisting the U.S. Department of Defense in conducting a Department of Defense (DOD) training exercise at a hotel in Boston to simulate a situation their personnel might encounter in a deployed environment,” the statement read. “Based on inaccurate information, they were mistakenly sent to the wrong room and detained an individual, not the intended role player. ”

“Thankfully nobody was injured,” the feds continued. “The Boston Police Department was called and responded to the scene to confirm that this was indeed a training exercise. Safety is always a priority of the FBI, and our law enforcement partners, and we take these incidents very seriously. The Boston Division is reviewing the incident with DOD for further action as deemed appropriate.”

The unnamed pilot declined to comment before speaking to his employer, but Delta soon released its own statement.

“We are looking into reports of an alleged incident in Boston that may involve Delta people,” it read. “We have nothing further to share at this time other than to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our people.”

“Night arrests are unusual so why would you train for a night arrest at 10 p.m.,” said Vic Hartman, a former 25-year veteran of the FBI. “It’s unusual, there could be a justification for it, it’s just not apparent to me on the surface.”

Though not part of this case, Harman says this training exercise is unlike any he oversaw while part of the agency.

“On the face of it, it doesn’t seem within protocol of most trainings,” he said.

Online, many are predicting the pilot is about to get paid.

“That pilot is going to be able to retire off of this settlement,” predicted one Twitter user. “Kidnapped, interrogated, tossed in the shower…”

“Someone just became rich and it only took 30 minutes of their time,” stated another.

“Big big pay day coming for that pilot,” wrote a third.


But most were simply disgusted by yet another bad move by the FBI.

“Inspector Closeau was in charge,” tweeted one user. “The Bureau is the laughingstock of the nation.”

Melissa Fine
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