"Harry Gordon" wrote
Was there a student pilot in the left seat with paying
passengers in the back?

Perhaps not a "student" pilot, but a "not fully qualified"
pilot flying the FAR Part 121 25 hours of IOE, (Initial Operating
Experience) required to qualify as pilot-in-command. The IOE
was flown under the supervision of a check airman who was the
pilot-in-command in the right seat.

Bob Moore