Jaden Lake-Kameroff was on a Ryan Air flight from Bethel to Aniak with four other passengers when he got up from his seat around 2:44 p.m., troopers wrote in an online statement. He was seated in the second row during the flight, said Lee Ryan, president of Ryan Air.
“Lake-Kameroff had asked the pilot to fly the plane earlier during the flight and initially asked to sit in the unoccupied copilot seat. Both requests were denied by the pilot,” troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel wrote in an email.
About five minutes after Lake-Kameroff asked to fly the plane, the pilot, who was identified as Joshua Kersch in an affidavit, said he felt the yoke go forward and saw Lake-Kameroff pushing forward on the controls.
The plane was about 5 miles from the Aniak airport and in the process of landing when Lake-Kameroff grabbed the controls, McDaniel said. The plane was roughly 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the ground, Kersch told troopers, according to the sworn affidavit signed by Trooper Jason Bohac.
Kersch said he was scared and his main concern was maintaining control of the plane, Bohac wrote.
Passengers on the plane said they “thought we were going to die,” the affidavit said.
One passenger said the pilot pushed Lake-Kameroff back and another passenger grabbed him before they were able to hold him down, the affidavit said. Another passenger described holding him in the seat while the plane landed, Bohac wrote.
The plane landed safely in Aniak, which is about 90 miles northeast of Bethel.
“Our pilot relied heavily on his training procedures and his professionalism and landed without further incident,” Ryan said. “... We’re extremely thankful for the safe outcome and extremely grateful for the passengers and the pilot and (flight) command collectively working together to land safely.”
Lake-Kameroff said he had tried to end his life on the plane by grabbing the controls, the affidavit said. He had talked with behavioral health officials previously but said it hadn’t helped, according to the affidavit.
He is facing charges of second-degree terroristic threatening, five counts of attempted first-degree assault and four charges of third-degree assault. Troopers said the Federal Aviation Administration was notified about the incident.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska is working with local, state and federal law enforcement partners, and federal charges will be determined by the outcome of the investigation, spokeswoman Lisa Houghton said in an email.
Two years ago, a 16-year-old took control of a flight after it left Napakiak headed for Bethel and caused the plane to dive. The pilot returned to Napakiak and landed safely. The juvenile suspect’s name was never released.
Any charges reported in this press release is merely accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
AK21076117
Location: Aniak
Type: Terroristic Threatening / Attempted Assault Investigation
On July 7, 2021, at approximately 1444 hours, Alaska State Troopers in Aniak were notified that a passenger on a commercial aircraft attempted to crash the plane.
A preliminary investigation revealed that 18-year-old Bethel resident Jaden Lake-Kameroff was on a commercial flight from Bethel to Aniak with a total of six souls on board. During the flight, Jaden got up from his seat and took control of the yoke causing the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan to nosedive.
The pilot was able to regain control of the aircraft with the assistance of passengers who pulled Jaden away from the yoke.
The passengers subdued Jaden while the pilot landed the aircraft safely in Aniak.
Alaska State Troopers in Aniak responded and arrested Jaden on charges of Terroristic Threatening in the 2nd degree, five counts of Attempted Assault in the 1st degree, and four counts of Assault in the 3rd Degree.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was notified of the incident.
He said he wanted to end his life. Of course, this would result in everyone's death, so attempted murder charges should be filed.
ReplyDeleteI know folks who value their lives highly, and if this clown had done it with them on board, he would not have to worry about killing himself.
Hope they beat the holy hell out of this lunatic. I know I would have to ensure he was "subdued." May he never see the light of day again in a cold dark lunatic asylum.
ReplyDelete