Passenger in US wants to open door in plane and attacks crew After kidnapping in Mexico: two US citizens found dead, two found alive

A passenger on a domestic flight in the United States kept crew and passengers on edge with threats, fiddling with an airplane door and attacking the crew.

The man allegedly tried to open an airplane door on a flight between the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Boston. He then attacked the flight crew with a broken metal spoon, the Massachusetts district attorney in charge said Monday. A passenger described her experience to CNN on Tuesday. Several other occupants on board eventually overpowered the 33-year-old and held him off until the plane landed.

About 45 minutes before landing, the crew in the cockpit of Sunday’s flight received an alarm about a misaligned latch on one of the plane’s doors, according to prosecutors. The passenger had previously been observed at the door. When asked about the missing bolt, the man allegedly asked if cameras had captured the incident. Finally, he allegedly attacked one of the flight attendants in the neck with the broken metal spoon.

The American television channel CNN showed video recordings made by other passengers on board on Tuesday. You see the man standing in his row of chairs and shouting angrily. Among other things, he speaks of a “bloodbath” and shouts: “You will have to shoot me.” And, “Don’t get too close to me.” Soon after, he says, “I’m taking control of this plane.” Then he walks down the aisle, arms stretched out in front of him in a defensive position, holding an object that looks like a weapon.

One of the passengers on board told CNN that the first five hours of the flight passed without incident. Only shortly before landing did the man start talking nonsense. Other passengers tried to calm him down at first. However, he grew increasingly angry. Eventually, several male passengers in the aisle ran after the 33-year-old and brought him to the floor. He was tied up with the help of the crew. The woman said her teenage daughter was very shocked by what happened. “She thought we were going to crash.”

Upon arrival in Boston, the assailant was immediately taken into custody, prosecutors said. In later interviews, several passengers reported that the man asked a fellow passenger where the door handle was before takeoff. In addition, according to witness statements, he would have walked up and down the galley with the spoon before the attack. US media, citing United Airlines, reported that no one was injured in the incident. The man now risks a long prison sentence and a fine of up to $ 250,000 (about 234,000 euros). (sda/dpa)