A Delta Air Strains passenger was detained at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport after he allegedly opened an emergency exit door and went down the emergency slide because the airplane ready to take off for Seattle on Saturday morning, authorities mentioned.
The incident occurred after 10 a.m. when flight attendants had made their security presentation to passengers and the aircraft pushed off from the gate, mentioned Karla Rodriguez, a captain with the Los Angeles Airport Police.
“There was no time for anyone to react,” mentioned Gillian Sheldon, who was on Delta Flight 1714. “It occurred so extremely rapidly.”
Sheldon was sitting in top notch and performing some last-minute duties on her telephone earlier than the aircraft’s scheduled takeoff when she mentioned she abruptly heard a person behind her say, “What do I do now?” She mentioned she seen the person was standing within the aisle because the aircraft taxied towards the runway.
A flight attendant informed the person to return to his seat, however the man ignored her and rapidly grabbed the emergency exit door, Sheldon mentioned.
“You can not open the door!” Sheldon mentioned the flight attendant yelled on the man.
The person opened the door and deployed the inflatable emergency slide, then jumped on it, Sheldon mentioned. From her window, she mentioned, she noticed the person stroll over to a baggage cart and sit down.
“What was so weird is it was so fast,” mentioned Sheldon, including that it took a couple of second for him to open the door and slide off the aircraft. “I believe some folks didn’t see it occur.”
As the person sat on the cart, Sheldon mentioned she considered calling 911 however then noticed Los Angeles Airport Law enforcement officials take him into custody.
Minutes later, the aircraft headed again to the gate and passengers have been requested to exit till they could possibly be positioned on a later flight, Sheldon mentioned.
L.A. Airport Police is investigating the incident and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified, Rodriguez mentioned. The person, who was not recognized, was taken to a hospital for a psychological analysis, Rodriguez added.
