Evaluating abuse allegations against Brad Pitt, says FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is gathering information about an incident, involving Brad Pitt and his family aboard a private flight last week, the agency has confirmed. 

Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency was still evaluating whether to open an investigation into allegations Pitt that was abusive during the flight toward one of his six children with actress Angelina Jolie-Pitt, as several media outlets have reported.

The reports from anonymous sources state the actor is under investigation by a child welfare agency because of the September 14 incident. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Families refused to comment if it was probing Pitt.A representative for Pitt declined comment on Thursday.

Jolie-Pitt filed for a divorce on Monday and her lawyer released a statement the following day, saying that she came to the decision “for the health of the family.” She listed their separation date as September 15, the day after the alleged plane incident, and is seeking sole custody of all six of the couple’s children. A phone message left for Jolie-Pitt’s attorney Laura Wasser was not returned on Thursday.

Amara Suarez, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, said the agency could not confirm if it was investigating Pitt or the well-being of the former couple’s children.

Koochiching County, Minnesota, Sheriff Perryn Hedlund said Brad Pitt was on a plane that landed at the International Falls, Minnesota, airport near the Canadian border on September 14. Hedlund said his sheriff’s deputies were not called to the airport, and International Falls police were also not called.

“There’s no incident whatsoever reported to law enforcement,” Hedlund said. He said he didn’t know why the plane landed in International Falls, but said it’s not uncommon for hockey players or other celebrities to stop at the airport. Messages left with the airport’s manager were not returned.

Pitt and Jolie-Pitt known as “Brangelina” were together for 12 years but only wed in August 2014. They married privately at their French chateau in the Provence hamlet of Correns. They have six children.