Top Noem aide violated Coast Guard safety guidelines to fire someone for the silliest reason

Corey Lewandowski, an aide to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, reportedly entered the cockpit of a government jet uninvited during a flight last year. According to Reuters, he then fired a pilot over a misplaced blanket. It really makes you wonder about the priorities here.

This incident, which happened last spring, suggests Lewandowski might have violated safety guidelines set by the U.S. Coast Guard, the agency that operated the plane. Apparently, Lewandowski entered the cockpit before the plane had even reached 10,000 feet and while the seatbelt sign was still illuminated. Federal Aviation Administration rules severely limit who can access the cockpit and forbid anyone from messing with the flight crew’s duties.

While the Coast Guard isn’t legally bound by the FAA’s strict “sterile cockpit rule,” they do have a very similar policy. It states that “No person shall engage in any conversation or activity that could distract or interfere with a flight crewmember properly conducting their assigned duties during critical phases of flight.” Aviation safety experts consider the initial ascent of any flight to be one of the riskiest parts since you don’t have the altitude to spare if something goes wrong. 

I am not sure firing someone is worth the risk to your life

Lewandowski responded to queries about the incident via text message, stating, “There was never a conversation in the cockpit when the flight was taking off.” He claimed the facts related by sources were incorrect, but he didn’t specifically address whether he entered the cockpit while the plane was still climbing and under 10,000 feet.

When the flight took off, Lewandowski noticed Noem’s blanket was missing, which is when he went to the cockpit. Later, when the pilot came to the cabin to follow up, Lewandowski asked who should be fired because the blanket had been left behind when the planes were switched for technical reasons. The pilot, who had an excellent service record, took responsibility. Lewandowski, being the top aide, fired him right there on the spot.

However, this firing was incredibly short-lived. Once Noem and Lewandowski arrived at their destination, Coast Guard leadership quickly realized they would need that very same pilot to fly them back to the Washington region. The pilot was reinstated by the agency, which just highlights the impulsive nature of the initial firing. 

Lewandowski, a long-time ally of President Trump, serves as a senior adviser to Noem. He’s a “special government employee” who can work up to 130 days annually, often accompanying her on trips. The story comes up as the DHS is in a state of partial shutdown, and they have cut funding to TSA, FEMA, and the US Coast Guard to pressure Congress. Noem is also under severe scrutiny following the fatal shootings of citizens by immigration agents in January.