An unruly passenger on Friday who tried breaking into the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Tennessee from California was restrained by cabin crew and fellow as the plane was diverted to New Mexico, officials stated.
Delta Flight 386, from Los Angeles bound for Nashville, arrived around 2:20 p.m. local time at Albuquerque International Sunport, the place authorities removed the passenger from the aircraft and took him into custody, an airport spokesperson stated.
Delta stated the Boeing 737-900 had 162 passengers and 6 crew members aboard.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Albuquerque stated on Twitter that it was responding to the incident and that there was “no threat to the public at this time.” The FBI provided no further details.
The airline and law enforcement didn’t say whether the person was armed, whether he was drunk or on drugs, or what may have prompted his outburst.
No one was hurt through the incident, and the flight resumed its journey to Nashville after the diversion, the airport spokesperson stated.
Los Angeles-based CBS News affiliate KCBS-TV posted a cellphone video taken by several passengers showing a man lying on his stomach within the aisle of the aircraft repeatedly yelling “Stop this aircraft” as he was being restrained.
A flight attendant and passengers bound his hands and feet with a yellow cord, then carried him to the rear of the aircraft, where he was placed face down in a seat, the video clips confirmed.
“Thanks to the crew and passengers of Delta Flight 386 … who assisted in detaining an unruly passenger as the flight diverted to Albuquerque,” Delta stated in a statement, adding that the aircraft landed without incident and the passenger was removed by law enforcement.
