Writer

Amy Wilder

A pilot who left a threatening voicemail last July after a rescinded job offer at a Florida charter company was sentenced earlier this month to one month in jail and one year of probation, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG).
Patrick White was <a href="https://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/46779">sentenced on April 8</a> in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, following a <a href="https://ia803405.us.archive.org/31/items/gov.uscourts.txwd.1172795492/gov.uscourts.txwd.1172795492.3.0.pdf">July 2024 criminal complaint</a> and <a href="https://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/46379">August indictment</a> on a charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought the charge under <a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title18/part1/chapter41&amp;edition=prelim">Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c)</a>, which criminalizes the use of interstate communications to issue threats to injure another person, stating, “Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”
The 2024 complaint alleged that on July 2, 2024, White left a voicemail for a company employee in which he threatened to kill them. The DOT OIG reported that White made the threat using a cellular phone, which constituted interstate communication.
According to court documents and statements from the DOT OIG, White had interviewed with a Florida-based charter company for a chief pilot position on Feb. 6, 2024, and received a tentative job offer on February 26.
However, the offer was rescinded following his failure to pass a required pre-employment alcohol screening conducted on March 5. His blood alcohol content was reported at 0.04. On March 14, the charter company rescinded White’s job offer in an email, citing the failed alcohol test.
In mid-March, White made harassing phone calls to the charter company’s director of operations for five days before stopping, according to the July 2024 criminal complaint.
The complaint states that White re-initiated contact with the operations director on June 28 and 29, leaving a vaguely threatening voicemail and a series of profanity-laced texts, including one that reportedly said: “I had an epiphany a vision if you will someone that you love is going to die in the next 14 days…I would start praying if I was you,” and another said to plead, “I need you to retract all those statements to the FAA and just say I miss spoke [sic] because you did Or this is going to get really ugly come tomorrow.”
July 2, 2024: White allegedly left a voicemail containing a direct and explicit threat to kill the victim, saying he was “coming after you,” and “you know what I’m being evicted from my place of residence because of…your actions.” He stated he would come to the victim’s location to kill him.&nbsp;
The victim reported the threatening voicemails and texts to both the FAA and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida. These threats were deemed serious enough to prompt a criminal complaint and request for an arrest warrant filed in federal court. White was arrested and posted $25,000 bail a little over a week later.
The April 8 sentencing follows several months of legal proceedings. A grand jury handed down the indictment on August 13, and the case was prosecuted in federal court. White’s sentence includes a month-long jail term, followed by probation, and a $25 special assessment.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Pilot Receives Jail Time for Threats over Rescinded Prospective Job Offer

Rescinded job offer followed failed alcohol test

A Texas pilot received jail time after making threats to employees of a company that revoked a job offer due to a failed alcohol screening.

Texas Pilot Sentenced after Threatening Voicemail

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

AQI fees set to go in place on small aircraft in June

NATA Urges APHIS To Keep Small Aircraft Fee Exemption

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Service will be housed on the cloud with more flexibility and resiliency

FAA To Roll Out More Reliable Notam Service in September

Jessica Reed

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Walter Bius and his Prairie Flower company allegedly operated an illegal charter service using deceptive aircraft leasing practices

DOT Files Civil Action against Illegal Charter Operation

Robert Sancetta

Most pilots can continue flying even with a cancer diagnosis

AINsight: Cancer and Flying, Part 1

Curt Epstein

Program is lauded for social media use and cohesive messaging

Climbing Fast Campaign Climbs to the Top

Chad Trautvetter

Uncertainty is keeping potential buyers and investors on the sidelines

Daher Aircraft Navigates Trump’s Tariffs

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

UK manufacturer has purchased battery chargers from electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies

Vertical Adopts Standardized Chargers for eVTOL Aircraft Batteries

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Regulations and Government