Disruptive American Airlines passenger duct-taped to seat
- 7 years ago
HONOLULU — A Turkish man was detained by the Feds last Friday after exhibiting some pretty bizarre behavior onboard an American Airlines flight from L.A. to Honolulu.
The Washington Post reports that halfway through the flight, Anil Uskanli tried to force his way into first class, allegedly to try to get into the cockpit. He had a towel or blanket over his head and was clutching a laptop, likely prompting worries of a possible bomb threat.
A flight attendant told Uskanli he wasn’t allowed in the cabin, and blocked his path with a drink cart. When he began pushing against it, some other passengers grabbed him and helped duct-tape him to his seat.
As a result of the security scare, two F-22 Raptor fighter jets were sent to escort the plane until it landed in Hawaii.
FBI agents led Uskanli away in handcuffs before checking every seat and passenger. No explosives were found, and the cockpit was not breached.
The suspect was taken for a medical evaluation and is expected to be charged for interfering with a flight crew.
Uskanli had earlier been detained at LAX for entering a prohibited area, and was charged with misdemeanor trespassing. Officers determined he had been drinking, but not enough to be drunk, and cleared him to fly.
An investigation is underway as the FBI tries to determine what the man’s motives were.
The Washington Post reports that halfway through the flight, Anil Uskanli tried to force his way into first class, allegedly to try to get into the cockpit. He had a towel or blanket over his head and was clutching a laptop, likely prompting worries of a possible bomb threat.
A flight attendant told Uskanli he wasn’t allowed in the cabin, and blocked his path with a drink cart. When he began pushing against it, some other passengers grabbed him and helped duct-tape him to his seat.
As a result of the security scare, two F-22 Raptor fighter jets were sent to escort the plane until it landed in Hawaii.
FBI agents led Uskanli away in handcuffs before checking every seat and passenger. No explosives were found, and the cockpit was not breached.
The suspect was taken for a medical evaluation and is expected to be charged for interfering with a flight crew.
Uskanli had earlier been detained at LAX for entering a prohibited area, and was charged with misdemeanor trespassing. Officers determined he had been drinking, but not enough to be drunk, and cleared him to fly.
An investigation is underway as the FBI tries to determine what the man’s motives were.