An American Airlines flight headed to Washington, D.C. had to change directions Sunday afternoon because of “an unruly passenger,” the airline stated.
“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 to CNN read.
“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.”
Joe McBride, Kansas City Aviation Department spokesperson, informed the outlet that there was a passenger onboard “interfering with the flight crew.”
The flight had to switch original plans because of an unruly passenger who was interfering with the flight crew,” the FBI’s statement said.
“The individual has been taken into custody. No further information is available at this time.”
The Federal Aviation Administration had also confirmed that the flight crew reported a passenger disturbance during the flight.
Mouaz Moustafa and a resident of Washington, DC, was on the flight and said he witnessed a flight attendant yelling to another flight attendant to turn the lights on. And that is when the plane rapidly descended, Moustafa said.
More people helped restrain the passenger, Moustafa added. Apparently, it seemed like the passenger was trying to get inside the cockpit and open the plane door.
A flight attendant had to use a coffee pot to hit the man over the head.
When the flight eventually landed, police and the FBI came on the plane.
Passengers had to be rescheduled on another flight.
