BOSTON — Agents with the Department of Defense mistakenly detained a Delta Air Lines pilot on Tuesday night after breaking into the wrong room during a training exercise at a Boston hotel, WFXT reported.
A police report obtained by the news station showed the incident happened around 10 p.m. at the Revere Hotel. Sources told WFXT that agents went into a room that two Delta pilots were staying in and handcuffed one of the pilots for about 45 minutes.
“Based on inaccurate information, (agents) were mistakenly sent to the wrong room and detained an individual, not the intended role player,” a spokesperson for the FBI’s Boston Division said in a statement. The agency was assisting the Defense Department in its training exercise, WFXT reported.
After the incident, the pilots went to the hotel’s front desk and had workers call police, sources told WFXT.
“Sir, bear with me on this one,” a person can be heard saying in a recording of the call obtained by WFXT. “Security called in saying 45 minutes ago, two Delta pilots had people claiming to be FBI agents barge into their room and handcuff them to the bathroom. And they’ve since left and want to file a report now.”
Responding police officers confirmed that the incident was part of a training exercise, according to the FBI.
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said the company was looking into reports “of an alleged incident in Boston that may involve Delta people,” according to WFXT.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the mix-up.
“The training was meant to enhance soldiers’ skills to operate in realistic and unfamiliar environments,” Lt. Col. Mike Burns of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said in a statement obtained by WFXT. “The training team, unfortunately, entered the wrong room and detained an individual unaffiliated with the exercise.”
Authorities continue to investigate.
