A flight en route from Los Angeles to Atlanta in the United States was diverted for an emergency landing when a passenger attacked two flight attendants and threatened to shoot down the plane, authorities said.
The incident took place late on Friday, at a time when Americans are using the airways more than ever since the pandemic broke out, and incidents of “unruly passengers” have risen sharply, often due to disputes. on the use of face masks.
This time there was an uproar in the front of Delta Flight 1730, according to the airline and the media.
While a man struggled with the flight attendants – and said repeatedly that he was going to “shoot down the plane” – the pilot called over the public address system for “all healthy men” to come.
Several, including an off-duty pilot, pounced on him and, after a violent struggle captured on video, managed to dominate the man, police said.
The plane, which was heading from the west coast to Atlanta in the southeast of the country, was diverted to Oklahoma.
Police in that city arrested the suspect, identified as a Delta employee in his 20s who was not on duty, according to the press.
After complaining of chest pains and showing signs of what police said were mental problems, the man was hospitalized. So far no other injuries have been reported.
In a statement, Delta thanked the passengers and crew who “helped stop a rogue passenger.”
Police searched the plane before allowing the flight to continue and the FBI opened an investigation.
Meanwhile, data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows that incidents of “unruly passengers” on commercial flights have exploded this year amid high levels of stress and as the use of masks has taken on political overtones.
The agency dropped 394 charges in “unruly passenger” cases as of May 25 of this year, a rate well above the 183 for all of 2020, according to its website.
