Two passengers and a service dog exited a flight as it was preparing for takeoff at LaGuardia Airport.
The incident occurred Monday morning on Delta Air Lines flight 462,
“During flight 462’s taxi-out at LaGuardia, a party of two opened a cabin door and exited the aircraft via the slide,” a statement from Delta stated. “The plane returned to the gate the place the remaining customers deplaned usually and were accommodated on alternate flights.”
Delta’s flight 462 was an Airbus A321 aircraft that measures 146 feet in length and 13.58 feet from the top of the main cabin to the ground, according to specs listed on an Airbus Plane Characteristics doc.
The flight in query was preparing for departure from Queens, N.Y., and was certain for Atlanta before the passengers made their unusual exit.
Maintenance technicians had been called in to judge the plane and ultimately cleared the aircraft for resumed service Monday evening, according to Delta.
The passengers, Antonio Murdock, 31, and Brianna Greco, 23, each from Florida, are dealing with charges for their unauthorized flight exit.
Murdock was charged with criminal mischief in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree, and criminal trespass in the third degree, according to Port Authority spokesperson Lenis Valens. Greco was charged with only criminal trespass in the third degree.
The service dog was taken to the Brooklyn Animal Care Center, and a receipt was given to Greco in order to retrieve the animal.
An alleged witness aboard the flight informed The New York Times that Murdock had refused to remain seated during takeoff whereas stating he had post-traumatic stress disorder.
