Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens' cockpit visit triggers FAA investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration is launching an investigation after a since-deleted video was posted showing Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens inside the flight deck during the team's charter flight from Denver to Toronto last week.

“Had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto,” Meulens wrote in the caption. “Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience.”

The since-deleted video was shared by Meulens on Instagram and shows him sitting in one of the pilots' seats and joking about landing the plane.

“We are deeply disturbed by what we see in that video," United Airlines said in a statement to 9NEWS, calling it “a clear violation of our safety and operational policies.”

According to the airline, the plane was at cruising altitude and autopilot was engaged while Meulens was in the cockpit. The pilots have been "withheld" from flying as United conducts an investigation.

A representative from the Rockies told The Denver Post they do not have a comment at this time.

The Rockies wrapped up a six-game homestand ahead of their flight to Toronto last week to begin a six-game road trip.

Meulens, 56, was hired by the Rockies as hitting coach in November 2022. Before that, he was a coach for the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Prior to becoming a coach, he played for two MLB teams, as well as in Japan and South Korea between 1989 and 2000.