Why an off-duty pilot who is accused of trying to turn a plane's engines off mid-flight was allowed to sit in the cockpit

• An off-duty pilot was charged with trying to turn off a plane's engines while riding in the cockpit. 
• The incident highlights how aviation insiders are able to skirt stringent safety procedures.
• The pilot was sitting in the "jump seat" which gave him easy access to the cockpit's operations.

An off-duty pilot was accused of attempting to turn off a plane's engines mid-flight despite conforming to the aviation industry's strict safety regulations — highlighting the potential havoc airline personnel can wreak even while operating within the system.