Icelandic airline restrains man on flight to NYC

Andy Ellwood posted on Tumblr this photo, taken by a friend, of an Icelandair passenger who had become so unruly on a flight to New York that he was forcibly restrained in his seat. / CBS/Tumblr

NEW YORK Icelandair said it had to restrain a passenger on a flight from Reykjavik to New York City because he was hitting people, screaming profanities and spitting.

Thursday's incident was getting media attention after a photograph began circulating on the Internet purporting to show the passenger tied to his seat with tape and plastic restraints.

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The man who posted the picture to the website Tumblr, Andy Ellwood, said it was taken by a friend on the flight.

Icelandair spokesman Gudjon Arngrimsson said the passenger was bound after his behavior became "unruly and threatening."

"To ensure the safety of those who were on board he was restrained by the crew and passengers and then was monitored for the duration of the flight for his own safety," he said.

He said he couldn't validate the photo's authenticity but said airlines commonly carry plastic handcuffs and tape to restrain potentially dangerous passengers.

The airline said police took the man off the plane when it landed at Kennedy Airport at around 6:30 p.m.

Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the airport, told reporters that police took the 46-year-old man to a hospital after determining that he was drunk. No charges were filed, he said.

The passenger's name wasn't released.

You are all inhuman and horrific. Whatever is going on with Eastern Europe and this hideous game with the United States will finally end soon. I promise you, you will not get away with this and there is no mercy much less any hope for you. Shuv the meds down your throat tonight and commit suicide.

[kbbpll]

Another NRA posterboy.

[bobnjersey]

[Thursday's incident was getting media attention after a photograph began circulating on the Internet purporting to show the passenger tied to his seat with tape and plastic restraints.]
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i'll bet the airlines have an extra fee for that 'taped and bound' treatment.

[quincytodd]

Anyone who can't control him or herself and continue spewing out that filthy Tea Party lingo needs to be put on a no-fly list and banned from all commercial flights!

[js555554]

Poor man, those other passengers totally took his rights away to free expression. Obama, please make sure this will not happen again. You are the light. You can do this, amen...

</sarcasm>

[howbizarre]

What does Obama have to do with a company from Iceland?

<sarcasm? You, JS555554 are a fine example of a US citizen - </SARCASM>

[quincytodd]

Gee Js555554, you sound like a Tea Partier taking up for one of your fellow members. Is that true, I wonder?

[legalbutunjust]

Welcome aboard, you're now on the "no fly" list.