From The Actual Report Of The Inspector General

From The actual Report of The Inspector General Safety Concerns Raised by Federal Flight Desk Officer’s Locking Pistol Holster We conducted an investigation that the design of TSA-issued locking holsters used by the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program increases the likelihood of an accidental discharge of a weapon in an aircraft cockpit. We examined the holster and observed that its design renders the weapon vulnerable to accidental discharges if improperly handled. In a darkened cockpit, under the stress of meeting the operational needs of the aircraft, a pilot could inadvertently discharge the weapon by failing to ensure it is properly seated in the holster, securing the trigger lock, and then pushing the weapon inward to secure the holster snap. Furthermore, our investigation observed that it was possible to accidentally discharge the weapon while inserting the hasp into the holster of an incorrectly seated weapon. Using a scale, we determined that only 6–7 pounds of lateral pressure on the padlock was sufficient to induce a discharge.

We recommended that given the distracting environment and potential low light of an aircraft cockpit, the FFDOs’ weapon locking system should be simple and forgiving and that TSA should discontinue the use of the locking holster and consider other methods for FFDO to secure their weapons.