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Flight attendant hits unruly passenger with coffee pot.
An American Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Washington DC had to be diverted to Kansas City when a male passenger reportedly tried to open the plane door.
Juan Remberto Rivas, 50, had allegedly tried to grab the handles used to manipulate the forward starboard aircraft exit door, said the statement quoting an affidavit filed by the FBI.
He positioned one foot on the aircraft door and began pulling hard on the handle with one hand, at first, and then both of his hands, the affidavit said.
The incident began when Rivas allegedly walked to the front of the plane and asked for the police, requesting to move to first class as he did not trust anyone in economy and there were “people out to get me.”
He was informed by the flight attendant that while he could not be moved to first class, he could be moved further down the plane.
However, a short time later, Rivas returned to the front of the aircraft and complained that the plane was not moving or flying.
When he was told to look outside to confirm that the plane was indeed in flight, he grabbed a bottle, eating utensils and a “plastic silverware” knife from the galley counter.
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He removed the napkin wrapped around it and “placed the plastic silverware in his shirt sleeve and was holding it like a shank,” the flight attendant said.
“He then grabbed a small champagne bottle by the neck of the bottle and attempted to break the bottle on the counter.”
As he attempted to open the plane door, a flight attendant reportedly swung a coffee pot at hitting him several times and knocking him to the ground where other passengers held him down.
In a video posted online, a man can be seen lying on the ground at the end of the aisle inside the plane.
The FBI confirmed he was taken into custody upon arrival in Kansas City and has been charged with one count of assaulting and intimidating a flight attendant and thereby interfering in the performance of the flight attendant’s duties.
In a statement, American Airlines praised its crew for handling the situation “with the utmost skill and professionalism.”
“American Airlines flight 1775 with service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington, D.C. (DCA) diverted to Kansas City (MCI) due to an unruly passenger,” the statement, provided to CNN, said.
“The flight landed safely at MCI at 2:28 p.m. local time, and law enforcement was requested to meet the flight on arrival,” it added. “We’re grateful to our crew members, who are consistently dedicated to the safety and care of our customers and who handled the circumstances with the utmost skill and professionalism.”
