A man traveling on a Southwest plane from Colorado to Arizona jumped out of the aircraft while taxiing around Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport Saturday morning.
Daniel Ramirez, 30, “exited the aircraft via a rear galley door,” as Flight 4236 was taxiing to a gate around 8 a.m, according to Southwest Airlines spokesperson Dan Landson. It’s unknown how he was able to open the aircraft door.
After landing on the tarmac, Ramirez ran to the fire station and locked himself inside a room. In a statement, Phoenix Fire Department Captain Todd Keller said that “firefighters were able to get the adult male to unlock the door where he was then evaluated, treated and transported to a local hospital for a lower extremity injury.”
Ramirez was booked into jail on suspicion of two counts of felony trespassing. Ramirez’s family told ABC15 that they had been concerned about his mental health before the flight. He had been in Colorado for work and wanted to come home because he feared for his life.
“I don’t want him to be portrayed as some oh…some crazy guy that jumped out off the plane,” Padilla said. “You know. I mean, he was running and hiding because he thought somebody was after him.”
His family hopes that he is given a mental evaluation and gets the help he needs. His mom, Theresa Padilla, told the outlet he might have schizophrenia based on family history. They describe Ramirez as a kind and loving man.
