A man on a scheduled flight threatens to crash the plane; Crew members and passengers overwhelm him. According to the US aviation authority, reports of unruly passengers are increasing.
Washington (AP) – A recalcitrant passenger forced an airplane of the airline Delta to land prematurely. The incident occurred on the way from Los Angeles to Atlanta. CNN reported, citing police in Oklahoma City, that crew members and passengers had overpowered the man.
He had previously attacked two flight attendants and threatened to crash the plane. The “dispute” took place in the front part of the aircraft, a spokesman for the airline said on request. He thanked crew members and passengers who helped detain the man en route to Oklahoma City, where the plane landed with no problems. The man was arrested.
In May, an incident on board a Southwest Airlines plane hit the headlines. A traveler hit a flight attendant on the way from Sacramento to San Diego. The employee lost two teeth. As a result, American and Southwest Airlines announced that they would not be offering alcohol to passengers with cheap tickets again as planned.
A few months ago, the head of the FAA, Steve Dickson, complained of a “worrying increase” in incidents in which passengers had disrupted flights by “threatening or violent behavior”. When asked, a spokeswoman said the FAA had received around 2,900 reports of unruly behavior from passengers since the beginning of the year. In 2,200 reported incidents, it was about passengers who refused to comply with the nationwide mask requirement to protect against the corona virus.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210613-99-969805 / 3
