Video of US baseball coach in cockpit under FAA probe

US aviation authorities are investigating after a baseball coach posted a video of himself in a plane's cockpit while airborne.

The video, filmed aboard a United Airlines charter, was originally posted to Instagram by Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens.

Passengers on US flights are generally banned from entering aeroplane cockpits.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.

United said it had suspended two pilots while its own investigation continues.

The incident took place on 10 April, as the Rockies travelled to Canada to play the Toronto Blue Jays.

The video shows Mr Meulens sitting in one of the cockpit chairs and pretending to take the controls. "I'm going to land the plane tonight," he jokes.

Mr Meulens captioned the video: "Had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto. Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience." It has since been deleted.

The FAA confirmed that an investigation is ongoing but declined to comment further.

In a statement, United Airlines said: "We're deeply disturbed by what we see in that video, which appears to show an unauthorized person in the flight deck at cruise altitude while the autopilot was engaged."

"As a clear violation of our safety and operational policies, we've reported the incident to the FAA and have withheld the pilots from service while we conduct an investigation."

Mr Meulens, originally from the Dutch island of Curacao in the Caribbean, had a playing career in the US, Japan, Korea and Mexico and has been on the coaching staff of several Major League Baseball teams.

The BBC has contacted Mr Meulens and the Rockies for comment.