An apparently intoxicated United Airlines passenger picked a very bad place to become belligerent, prompting the captain to warn passengers to “protect the flight deck at all costs” before fellow travelers ultimately wrestled him down and restrained him.
United Passengers Tackle Drunk Man After Captain Warns: “Protect The Flight Deck At All Costs”
The incident occurred on a shorthaul international United Airlines flight approaching Houston (IAH).
Video from the flight shows an apparently intoxicated passenger arguing with both the flight attendants and his own father as the situation steadily escalated. A flight attendant initially tried to reason with him, warning that his behavior was unacceptable, that he had been drinking, and that restraints would be used if he did not calm down. She also pointed out that his father was sitting there watching the entire spectacle.
That didn’t help.
The man continued arguing, including with his father, at one point chastising him for being “weak” and telling him not to “bow down.”
Then the captain came on the PA system:
“This is the captain. I need everybody in their seats… Protect the flight deck at all costs.”
That’s quite an announcement to hear while sitting on an airplane…
The intoxicated passenger responded dismissively and the situation quickly deteriorated from there.
Passengers Step In And Restrain Him
Video from the second part of the incident shows several passengers surrounding the man as a flight attendant repeatedly orders him to sit down.
Instead, he struggles with those around him.
At that point, several passengers take matters into their own hands, pinning him across a row of seats and working together to control his arms, legs, head, and torso. Learning from the George Floyd encounter, as the passengers restrained him, several people repeatedly checked to make sure he could still breathe and adjusted his position accordingly.
The man, meanwhile, continued arguing and insulting those trying to control him. So much for calming down…
Alcohol And Airplanes Don’t Always Mix
It’s not clear how much the passenger had consumed or when he started drinking, but he was apparently intoxicated enough that a flight attendant specifically called out his alcohol consumption. Early in the first video the flight attendant says she did not serve him any alcohol which makes it all the more curious: if he boarded this drunk, why was he allowed on in the first place?
Have a drink or two on an airplane, if your must. But if alcohol turns you into someone who verbally abuses the crew, fights with your own father, and ultimately requires a group of strangers to pin you down across a row of seats, perhaps drinking and flying are not a good combination for you…
CONCLUSION
An intoxicated United passenger refused repeated warnings to calm down, argued with his father and the crew, and ultimately had to be physically restrained by fellow passengers as the flight approached Houston.
The captain’s warning to “protect the flight deck at all costs” certainly got everyone’s attention, but thankfully the situation never reached that point.
Instead, passengers stepped up, restrained the man, and made sure everyone onboard landed safely.
Still, a pathetic encounter.
It’s Billy Bob after too many Long Island ice teas
Nice try. I’d never go to Texas.
Speaking from experience, Joe?
Spirit’s passengers still gotta go somewhere to fly.