Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Police: Drunk passenger tried to open exit door on Boston-bound flight

Investigation determines passenger was intoxicated, tried to open exit door. No known nexus to terrorism at this time. - Massachusetts State Police




BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – A female passenger was restrained Tuesday on a British Airways flight headed for Logan Airport after allegedly trying to open an exit door.   

The flight, British Airways flight 213, took off from Heathrow Airport in London Tuesday morning and landed at Logan around 1:30 p.m.

State Police said they believe the passenger was intoxicated and not trying to commit a terrorist act.

"A passenger on British Airways Flight 213, a 777 en route from Heathrow to Boston, tried to open an exit door and has been restrained. The cockpit is secure and the flight is continuing to Boston," the FAA said in a statement.

In a statement British Airways said they will not allow an abusive or unruly passenger.

"Our customers and crew deserve to have a safe and enjoyable flight and we do not tolerate abusive behavior. Our crew have requested that police meet the flight in Boston due to an unruly customer on board," the statement said.

Former American Airlines pilot Bill Dee told FOX25 it would require more strength then a person has to open one of those doors mid-flight.

“That's a lot of pressure. And with the fact that they're pluck-tight doors, you'd have to pull the door in a little bit so the hinges could do that little twist and then you'd have to get the door out. So I think its next to impossible,” Dee said.

Security expert Anthony Amore said the Mass. State Police have dealt with problems like this before and know what to do.

“The Massachusetts State Police at Logan are very, very experienced in this sort of thing. I can’t think of any other group of law enforcement I’d rather have responding to it. They will deal with this person severely, they know exactly what to do and how to handle it,” he said.

State police said the passenger will most likely face charges including at least interfering with a flight crew.

“The standard charge would be interfering with a flight crew and then depending on what else the person might have been doing on the aircraft people get involved, there will be a representative from the TSA there and Homeland Security will probably prosecute the crime at a federal level,” Amore said.

Some passengers saw what happened, while others said they weren't even aware. 

Sean Delaney was on the plane and said, "She was right in front of us and then she tried to open the door in the back of the plane."

Another passenger, Charles Hinton, said, "The crew pretty much had her subdued with very little problems. She wasn't shouting, she wasn't thrashing. It seemed more like a panic attack."

Those on the plane described the woman as a blonde in her 30s. Police say the incident does not appear to be terrorism related, but with the recent events in Paris, passengers say they wondered about it. 

"With the events going on in the world it makes things scary," one traveler said.

Story, video and photo gallery: http://www.myfoxboston.com






No comments:

Post a Comment