Wed, Apr 07, 2010
One Caused An AA Jet To Divert To Anchorage
It's unlikely that anything about Alaska had anything to do
with it, but two incidents involving unruly passengers were
reported Monday with ties to the 49th state.
In one, a passenger on a commuter flight tried to grab the
controls of the airplane during landing in Emmonak. Derek Atchak
was the only passenger on board a flight from Nunam Iqua, and
authorities say he attempted to grab the airplanes controls on
final approach.
The Juneau Empire reports that the pilot was able to maintain
control of the airplane and land safely, and Atchak ran from the
airport after landing. He was later arrested at a home in Nunam
Iqua and charged with reckless endangerment.
Meanwhile, an American Airlines flight from LA to Tokyo was
diverted to Anchorage over the weekend, when a passenger became
unruly and threatened to harm the pilot.
The Anchorage Daily News reports that John James Leih, a
British citizen, had consumed as many as seven drinks both before
and during the flight, and the flight crew denied him service when
his speech became slurred. According to the FBI, Leigh began
yelling and cursing, and advanced on the pilot with his right hand
raised threatening to "kick his behind", so to speak.
The pilot reportedly grabbed Leigh and spun him around. Two
passengers held him while he was cuffed by one of the flight
crew. However, he continued to struggle, kicking a flight
attendant in the groin and shoulder, according to the FBI.
The flight diverted to Anchorage International Airport, where it
landed just before 1700. Leigh was arrested on a charge of
interfering with a flight crew.
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