American Airlines flight diverted when unruly passenger tried to open the door

An American Airlines flight was diverted after a passenger tried to open the emergency door while the plane was in flight.

Everyone on the aircraft, both passengers and crew, intervened so that the person could be subdued.

The FBI had to board the plane to take control of the situation.

An American Airlines flight was diverted after a passenger tried to open the emergency door while the plane was still in flight. In the end, everyone on the aircraft, both passengers and crew, intervened so that the person could be subdued.

On Sunday, the passengers of an American Airlines flight that took off from the city of Los Angeles bound for Washington DC had a terrible scare. They had to be diverted to Kansas City after a passenger tried to open the emergency door.

American Airlines flight diverted after passenger tried to open the door

Photo: Twitter

The situation aboard American Airlines flight AA1775 with «an unruly passenger» quickly became dangerous. In fact, the plane had to make emergency landing in Kansas City where agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were forced to intervene.

The passenger exhibited «erratic» behavior and attempted to open the plane’s door mid-flight, forcing the aircraft to land, the airline told People magazine. The person who caused the incident «was finally subdued by our crew and with the help of other passengers,» they added.

“Disturbance on board”

Photo: Twitter

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed what the crew reported «about a passenger disturbance on board.» The plane had to land unexpectedly, but it did so without incident at about 2:05 p.m. in Kansas City.

Once on the ground, the FBI intervened and boarded the plane, according to a passenger named Mouaz Moustafa, who posted images of the entire incident on social media. “Flight AA1775 from Los Angeles to DC just made a emergency landing in Kansas after a near miss when a passenger tried to open the door of the plane mid-flight,» he said.

The passenger was subdued with a coffee maker

Photo: Twitter

Like the airline, Moustafa confirmed that «he was subdued by other passengers and flight attendants and force had to be used to incapacitate the individual.» By the time he began posting, the passengers were already in Kansas City waiting for the FBI to take control of the situation.

The passenger also explained that in order to stop the subject, the crew had to use a coffee maker. “The FBI have boarded flight #AA1775 and are going through the scene after a flight attendant used a coffee pot to strike a middle aged man multiple times who was attempting to open the plane door,” he posted on Twitter.

Photo: Twitter

According to Moustafa, «passengers restrained the individual and a flight attendant used a coffee maker to subdue him as the plane descended rapidly.» The man was bleeding after being beaten in order to stop his erratic behavior.

«The individual who caused the incident was bleeding when the plane made the emergency landing,» the passenger said. After they finally landed in Kansas City, police officers removed the man from the aircraft and began a detailed investigation.

FBI agents boarded the plane

Photo: Twitter

Passenger Mouaz Moustafa explained that FBI agents were «on the plane talking to passengers» to clarify the situation. He added that in the photographs it was possible to «see the stewardess cleaning the scene.» SEE MORE IMAGES AND VIDEOS HERE.

The FBI office in Kansas City reported in a statement that the passenger, of whom no further details were revealed, had been «detained.» They also indicated that the agency is continuing an investigation of the incident on board the American Airlines aircraft.

American Airlines thanks its employees

Photo: Twitter

«We are grateful to our crew members who are constantly dedicated to the safety and care of our customers and who handled the circumstances with the utmost skill and professionalism,» American Airlines said of the incident.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, during 2021, the crews of the various airlines operating in the country reported 5,981 cases of unruly passengers. Although most of them did not result in a major problem and did not require additional investigation.

You have to wear a mask during flights

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In fact, the FFA details that of those 5,981 reports of unruly passengers, the majority, that is, about 72%, corresponded to incidents that were related to the federal mandate that requires the use of masks during flights to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Only in 1,105 cases was an in-depth investigation required and only in 350 cases were additional actions required in court, the FFA detailed. SEE DETAILED FFA REPORT HERE.