More details have emerged on the flight bound for Washington DC that was forced to land in Kansas City Sunday due to an unruly passenger on board.
California resident Juan Remberto Rivas is facing a federal charge after his behavior forced the American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to land at KCI Airport. According to the airline the flight landed at KCI at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13. Rivas was then taken into custody and charged Monday, Feb. 14.
“We are 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,” American Airlines representatives said in a statement.
Passenger video on social media shows a man being restrained by several other passengers and a flight attendant.
According to the charging documents, Rivas claimed someone was after him and his family and attempted to break into the cockpit, using plastic cutlery and a mini champagne bottle. A flight attendant intervened and was assaulted. The flight attendant responded by hitting the suspect in the head with a coffee pot, but the man then attempted to open the plane’s escape hatch.
An off-duty police officer and several passengers were finally able to subdue the man using duct tape and zip ties as the plane rapidly changed course for its emergency landing at KCI.
Passengers have told local media they were terrified when the plane began its quick descent into Kansas City, concerned the plane was about to crash.