Local police in Phoenix have arrested a man who was randomly touching people’s faces and spraying an unknown substance onto fellow passengers onboard an American Airlines flight.
What are the details?
The incident took place on American Airlines flight 1346 going from Minneapolis to Phoenix on Friday morning. The crew of flight 1346 called ahead for authorities to meet the aircraft at the gate, shortly after 6 a.m. local, after a 25-year-old passenger exhibited “strange behavior” during the flight. Witnesses say he was acting aggressively and tried to hit other passengers.
Upon the plane arriving to the gate in Phoenix, the man was brought to the front of the plane to get off before the other passengers. While waiting for the main door of the aircraft to open, the man opened and jumped out of an exit door on the other side of the plane and onto the apron 10 ft below. His desperate escape ended when he was subdued by airport employees and then arrested by authorities for trespassing.
American Airlines released a statement regarding the incident:
“American had requested law enforcement meet flight 1346 upon arrival in Phoenix due to a disruptive passenger. Once the flight arrived at the gate, the passenger opened one of the doors and jumped off the aircraft. Law enforcement and paramedics responded.”
Neither local police or American Airlines were able to identify what exactly was in the spray bottle that he was using, however there were no reports of injuries to passengers. The passengers affected decided not to press charges against the man. Trespassing charges are pending against the man from the prosecutor’s office. Luckily, the incident did not disrupt airport operations.
This isn’t the first time an incident similar to this has happened. Just a few months ago, a panicked passenger who wanted off a delayed United flight in Tampa got off the plane by using the emergency exit door and going down the inflatable slide. Simple Flying is glad to hear the man was caught without incident and that there was no disruption to the airport operations.
What do you think of this incident? Let us know in the comments!
