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Home » American Airlines » Passengers Tackle Thug Who Almost Opened Emergency Exit Door After Takeoff On American Airlines Flight
American Airlines

Passengers Tackle Thug Who Almost Opened Emergency Exit Door After Takeoff On American Airlines Flight

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 21, 2024February 21, 2024 20 Comments

a group of people in an airplane

In the end, the mission failed, but a man at least partially succeeded in opening the emergency exit door after takeoff on an American Airlines flight to Chicago. Thankfully, passengers tackled him and restrained him until the aircraft could be diverted.

American Airlines Passengers Tackle Man Who Attempted To Open Emergency Exit Door After Takeoff

Imagine you are sitting on a flight and suddenly, 30 minutes after takeoff, you suddenly feel a strong gush of wind. That’s a scary thought. But that’s exactly what happened onboard American Airlines flight AA1219 from Albuquerque (ABQ) to Chicago (ORD) on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800.

About 11 minutes after takeoff a male passenger suddenly made a beeline for the emergency exit door and tried to open. I doubt he could have fully opened it, but he made some progress as passengers reported a sudden and strong gush of wind.

Passengers tackled him and held him down as he tried to squirm out.

The captain returned to Albuquerque where the man was offloaded and arrested.

American Airlines released the following statement concerning the incident:

“American Airlines flight 1219 with service from Albuquerque (ABQ) to Chicago (ORD) returned to ABQ shortly after takeoff due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer. The flight landed safely and the aircraft was met by local law enforcement upon arrival.”

Here’s some pictures and videos from onboard:

Ladies and gentlemen, WE GOT HIM pic.twitter.com/zuuWDrYXBS

— The Wonton Don (@DonnieDoesWorld) February 20, 2024

One of the scariest days of my life. Flying back home from ABQ and we’ve been in the air for about 30 minutes and a huge gush of wind comes out of no where. This guy opened the emergency exit door. People were tackling him down and put him in zip ties. Had to emergency land back. pic.twitter.com/PojFvDU3rS

— LΛYZ (@layzdubz) February 20, 2024

Any guesses as to how much alcohol this tosser was drinking? I’m quite glad to see that no one was injured in the kerfuffle.

CONCLUSION

Another day, another in-flight incident. Thankfully, the forces of gravity make it virtually impossible (absent superhuman strength) to open an emergency exit door at cruising altitude. But while a door may not be fully openable, the gush of wind element is the most chilling part of the story.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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20 Comments

  1. styleonthegothurston Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 6:59 am

    This flight wasn’t operated by an A319. It was a 737-800. The photos clearly show that as well.

  2. JK Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 7:17 am

    I thought it was impossible to open the door during cruise altitude? I assume the plane would be close to cruising at 30 mins after departure, amazing he was able to get it open at all – this is happening far too often, kudos for the passengers able to help restrain him.

  3. Malik on Wall Street Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 7:36 am

    Honestly do not understand why people do this. We should stop giving these people attention, then these stunts might stop.

    • Maryland Reply
      February 21, 2024 at 7:42 am

      I agree Malik. When one gets attention for something as serious as this incident, how many more view it as a challenge. Scary stuff

      • Dave Edwards Reply
        February 21, 2024 at 9:43 am

        He works for barstool and craves attention on Social Media for Elon Bucks. I agree admitting you were in a stupor from tequila should be a reason to ban the “Wanton Don” for future AA flights as potential risk.

        Unfortunately we are all giving him the attention he desires.

  4. CHRIS Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 8:26 am

    I thought we weren’t allowed to say thug anymore because its now rayciss. Just say cracker or honky……two perfectly acceptable slurs.

  5. Santastico Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 8:28 am

    Morons being morons.

    • sunviking82 Reply
      February 21, 2024 at 8:59 am

      AMEN!

  6. Dave Edwards Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 8:46 am

    Silly Matt, don’t you know it’s racist to call someone a thug? Just ask any liberal.

    • Brutus Reply
      February 21, 2024 at 11:49 am

      Racists get all confused when the term thug gets applied to a white person.

  7. Hecta Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 9:41 am

    Thank you for your service, Donnie. #salute

  8. Lars Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 9:56 am

    Don’t know that “thug” begins to adequately cover the severity of what was being attempted here.

  9. HkCaGu Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 10:31 am

    It’s not 30 min after take off. According to FlightAware, the flight took off at 13:54 MST and reached FL272 11 min later and started an emergency-ish descend to 12,800 feet (due to terrain I guess). It landed at 14:42 MST.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 21, 2024 at 10:48 am

      Helpful. Thank you.

  10. Christian Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 11:23 am

    I thought that no human could open an airplane door after 11 minutes of climbing let alone 30 minutes.

  11. Timothy Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 11:28 am

    Minor correction, but it’s not gravity that makes the doors impossible to open; it’s the air pressure differential, where the higher pressure inside the cabin holds the door firmly against the outside of the fuselage. (Yes, the lower air pressure at altitude is a result of gravity acting on the air, but that’s a little indirect)., technically the air pressure differential is related to gravity.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 21, 2024 at 4:45 pm

      Quite right. Thanks.

  12. Sara Smith Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 12:48 pm

    Omg, so white-centric to want doors closed. Embrace Laqueefi and zir’s open door policy.

  13. some lurker Reply
    February 21, 2024 at 6:38 pm

    Not the laws of gravity but air pressure. Still not sure how this is possible once the plane is airborne. Shouldn’t there be some kind of safety interlock that disables the controls when some condition (the landing gear are up, altitude > 100m is reached). But I guess we have enough trouble with aircraft makers keeping the current designs airworthy, especially around doors and hatches.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 22, 2024 at 5:44 am

      Thanks. You are correct.

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