On 20 February, a male passenger tried to open an overwing (emergency) exit of a Boeing 737-800 (registered N352PS) about 30 minutes into American Airlines domestic flight AA1912 between Albuquerque (ABQ) and Chicago (ORD). Fellow passengers immediately subdued the culprit. A fellow passenger witnessed that the passenger handled the emergency door handle with brute force and that the aircraft suffered a pressurisation problem with a hissing sound.
Another passenger said that a sudden wind came “out of nowhere“. Enough for the pilots to return the aircraft to Albuquerque and to hand over the unruly passenger to law enforcement.
A passenger with X username The Wonton Don commented on social media: “30 minutes after departing Albuquerque I was shaken out of my Panda Express and Tequila induced stupor by a man trying to aggressively open the airplane door 4 rows back. Me and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle, duct tape his legs, and throw flexi-cuffs on him. Just safely landed back in ABQ but HOLY SHIT.”
30 minutes after departing Albuquerque I was shaken out of my Panda Express and Tequila induced stupor by a man trying to aggressively open the airplane door 4 rows back. Me and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle, duct tape his legs, and throw flexi-cuffs on him.… pic.twitter.com/zkrtEveYgQ
— The Wonton Don (@DonnieDoesWorld) February 20, 2024
Multiple people on an American flight AA1219, operated by a B737-823 plane (N352PS), struggled to overpower a fellow passenger as he tried to open one of the emergency exits mid-flight, forcing the plane to return to Albuquerque,shortly after takeoff on 20 February.
?Wonton Don pic.twitter.com/AGp1az7Gfy
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) February 21, 2024
On February 20, an #AmericanAirlines passenger attempted aggressively to open the emergency door of a Boeing 737-800 (N352PS), 30 minutes after takeoff from the #Albuquerque int'l Sunport (#ABQ), bound for #Chicago O'Hare.
? © @layzdubz#AmericanAir #AA1219 #Boeing #B737 pic.twitter.com/8wGMcKWkK5
— FlightMode (@FlightModeblog) February 21, 2024
