Naked Passenger Diverts Flight

Pro Soccer Team Helped Subdue Man As He Later Tried To Open Emergency Door

(CBS/ AP)  An American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles was diverted to Oklahoma City on Friday after a passenger stripped nude and later tried to open an emergency exit door before being subdued by members of a professional soccer team and others, the FBI said.

Members of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer were among those who grabbed the passenger near an exit door, FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said. Tie wraps were placed on the man, whose name was not immediately released. He was taken into custody in Oklahoma City and placed under psychiatric evaluation, Johnson said.

American Flight 725, a Boeing 757, arrived in Oklahoma City at 1:35 p.m. CDT and was back in the air an hour later, said American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith. It landed without further incident at Los Angeles International Airport at 3:13 p.m. PDT.

Craig Tornberg, the soccer team's general manager, said he confronted the man as soon as he saw him emerge naked from one of the plane's restrooms.

"I said he should get back into the bathroom and put on his clothes," Tornberg said after the plane landed in Los Angeles. "He said something strange to me. He said, 'I don't hear you. I don't see you."'

Tornberg said the man complied and got dressed but a few minutes later "made a beeline for the emergency door." The plane was traveling at 30,000 feet when he reached for the emergency door, reports CBS affiliate KWTV in Oklahoma City.

Tornberg said he, assistant coach Gwynne Williams and Michael Burns, the team's vice president for player personnel, grabbed the man and forced him into a seat while a flight attendant tied him up.

"It was strange, but when he put his hands on the exit door - that brought it to another level," Burns said. "Clearly, he wasn't thinking straight."

The pilot diverted the flight to Will Rogers World Airport where the man was removed.

"He was taken into custody by the Oklahoma City Police Department and taken to a crisis center for a mental evaluation," Johnson said.

Shortly before the incident, Tornberg said he saw the man, described as clean-cut and in his early 20s, crying and "talking a lot of gibberish."

The soccer team was on its way to Southern California for a game on Sunday against Chivas USA at California State University, Fullerton. Its members were among 151 passengers and seven crew members on the flight.

As passengers left the plane in Los Angeles, several indicated they had taken the incident in stride.

Gillian Callaghan, who was traveling with her 12-year-old son, said she never panicked because the flight crew seemed to keep things well under control. She said she felt sorry for the man.

"He was just having some troubles, confused, not a scary guy," she said.

[needed2bsaid]

It landed without further incident at Los Angeles International Airport at 3:13 p.m. PDT.


Thank GOD! Could you imagine if another naked passenger streaked the cabin????

[babooph]

He must have been premature in his gate inspection.

[loneeagle57]

"Clearly, he wasn''t thinking straight."
No shi t do you think a rationally thinking person would try to open an emergency door at 30000 ft let along let his john thomas hang out for the world to see?

[shanev137]

He probably just got laid off from his job, lost his house, and can''t afford to put gas in his car anymore.

We''ll being seeing more of this kind of stuff as we head into economic depression.

[godofredo29]

"He was taken into custody by the Oklahoma City Police Department and taken to a crisis center for a mental evaluation," Johnson said."

Yeah, we know all about those "crisis centers". The chosen form of medication there is a taser and if the individual doesn''t cooperate (surprise, surprise) they''re dragged off to jail. My, hasn''t psychiatry come a long way, eh Dr. Phil?

[whiskyrocker]

This man would have recieved a beatin'' he wouldn''t had forgot about anytime soon if I was on that plane.Stripping is one thing trying to kill everyone on board is another.

[Meg003]

"This man would have recieved a beatin'''' he wouldn''''t had forgot about anytime soon if I was on that plane.Stripping is one thing trying to kill everyone on board is another."

Posted by whiskyrocker

Funny you should post that. When I read the article I thought to myself how fortunate it was that the soccer players had enough intelligence to recognize that the man was impaired, possibly due to a medical condition, and that there weren''t some idiot thugs on the plane who would have beaten the ill passenger.

[nathan8804-2009]

They should have beat the living sh*t out of him. Maybe that would have woke him from his metal state.

[cfin5]

Wonder if Ethel was starting to get some ideas?

[slim1h2o]

and that there weren''''t some idiot thugs on the plane who would have beaten the ill passenger.

Posted by Meg001 at 08:32 AM : Jul 19, 2008

Thats the problem now-a-days, blame the ill and elderly for our problems of today. When some of these posters get old or ill,,they''ll see how this country treats its ill and old. They just get kicked aside, and considered useless to the rest of society.

[newsjunky5]

Probably a weirded-out battle-crazy from the war. I used to think it a good idea to bring the troops home. Now I don''t want them here. It''s expensive to fly all those PTSD guys home, stop wasteful government spending now.

[ponco seno]

Probably a weirded-out battle-crazy from the war. I used to think it a good idea to bring the troops home. Now I don''''t want them here. It''''s expensive to fly all those PTSD guys home, stop wasteful government spending now.


Posted by newsjunky5 at 10:02 AM : Jul 19, 2008




Many veterans will become murderes and hard criminals because of PTSD.

[ubrew12]

"Naked Passenger Diverts Flight"

and now, back to your regularly scheduled entertainment...

[crazycwp]

I have a great idea!!! newsjunky5 and realitytoday you two go to Iraq and let two brave american soldiers come home. I can guarantee no one in this country will miss you.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello America

Speaking of the Devil , now he is running around naked on airflights !

Fuzzy Bear what topic will we discuss today ?

I think it best if we pick up the Topic of the Devil, Beelzubub, Scratch, or Satan

now I know this is a delicate subject which many people shy from, but if we take a pure Scientific approach to the Devil we can clear somethings up.

normally we would use the Bible in our discussion, but I choose to use Newton`s approach to start.

`` For every force there is a complete equal and opposite force ``

fundamental law of physics

When Einstein said God does not play dice with the Universe, we might use the supposition that the Devil tries too.

and here in this article about a mother using her daughters for prostituion is a perfect example of the influence of the Devil, or the Evil one.

Good - Evil, Love - Hate

since 99% of people in the World believe in God, then it stands to reason they must also except a belief in the Devil.

sincerely exposing Evil on all sides Bear
Fuzzy

[rushlimpdrug]

Posted by FuzzyBear9 at 10:33 AM

Put your clothes back on no one cares
if you''re fuzzy.

Oh, and stay home.

No more flying for you.

[andrew_693]

if he was speaking gibberish it was probably a republican christian speaking in tongues, don''t forget they are preparing for the rapture right now.

[rushlimpdrug]

This passenger''s behavior was VERY odd.

Usually, when a passenger comes out of
the plane bathroom naked the flight
attendant will point it out and make
sure he returns to his proper seat.

I think the soccer team was arroused
which caused the naked passenger to
become confused when they started
chasing after him.

Just a theory.

[jarheadcwo3]

Newsjunky5:

Those PTSD guys that threaten or trouble you by their existence have given a major portion of their lives to serve this country. They have paid their citizenship dues.

I question you Sir, what the hell have you done for your country??? I am sorry if we ''PTSD guys'' make you uncomfortable with your protected existence.

Don''t whine and snivel about things of which you have no knowledge my little ''girlie-man''.

Charles H.
USMC (ret)

[Meg003]

Most murderers and hardened criminals come from abusive or neglecting parents and would never make it in the military, because they lack self-control and mental toughness.

Most veterans come home from protecting us (thank you) and serve honorable lives even after living through incredibly stressful and danger-filled conditions.

[ubrew12]

"Naked Passenger Diverts Flight"

Yeah. The problem with flying naked is always your rudder.

[excoachken]

Apparently, this guy thinks the "MIle High Club" is based upon where the airplane is when a person takes their hellucinogenens.

[mudguts4]

They should have givin the poor guy a parachute, then he would have had something on and if he jumped he''d be ok.

[newsjunky5]

"Those PTSD guys that threaten or trouble you by their existence...
I question you Sir, what the hell have you done for your country??? I am sorry if we ''''PTSD guys'''' make you uncomfortable with your protected existence.

Don''''t whine and snivel about things of which you have no knowledge..."
-----------------------------------

Here''s what I know about it -

Used to carry them around for a living (the ones who couldn''t walk anymore). And care for them in many other ways. That''s as close to war as I care to come.

Had a roomate kill himself 5 years after the war he was in. I don''t think he''s counted as a casualty of that war.

Saw many friends "self-medicate" themselves to death from it.

The warmongers in Washington (and in your town) are responsible for every one of those wounded, and the dead we don''t see at home. They (George, ***, Karl, and Co.) are responsible for it all, whether you volunteered to go there, or were just unlucky enough to live in those places.

My earlier comments were sarcastic and angry, directed at them, and treating the wounded (in words)just as poorly as they have in reality. You misunderstood my comments as actually against PTSD victims. Yes victims. As long as someone can come up with an excuse, there can be a pre-emptive war.

Come on, did you really think someone would not bring back the military because it''s too expensive?

[samthetvcat]

---"Fear of flying is a crime with you peckkkerheads."---
Posted by donnie600

The reporting makes it sound like it was scary, but the mom and her son weren''t scared they understood :)

[samthetvcat]

---"Most veterans come home from protecting us (thank you) and serve honorable lives even after living through incredibly stressful and danger-filled conditions."---
Posted by Meg001

There HAVE been reports of some veterans not being able to receive the treatment they were seeking for like PTSD and suicidal thoughs though. We need to do a better job of not being pollyannish about it.

The guy in the report is in his early 20''s . . . isn''t that when schizoprhenia starts to kick in? Like even if he''s a vet, maybe it''s not PTSD? Also, yeah it could be one of those drugs that makes people feel hot - which is the street drug that always makes people halluncinate and want to take their clothes off again?

[newsjunky5]

Like even if he''''s a vet, maybe it''''s not PTSD?.. one of those drugs... makes people halluncinate and want to take their clothes off again?"
------------------------------

It doesn''t really sound like PTSD, more like LSD.

[newsjunky5]

It''s good they diverted to Will Rogers World Airport, as Will Rogers said he never met a man he didn''t like.
However I''m not really sure how to take that comment.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello America

lets get back to the basis of the Topic,

now some people would blame the Airlines, what cutting back on flight fuel and all, landing on fumes without any additional safety fuel time.

first it started with charges for an extra carry on bag,
so now they claim the passengers are stripping off there clothes to reduce weight on the flights,

no movies, no food, now no clothes.

its all abunch of nonsense, all these people listening to the Devil is the problem.

sincerely not paying one dime for a plane ticket that doesn`t carry extra flight fuel, Bear
Fuzzy

[Meg003]

Probably a weirded-out battle-crazy from the war. I used to think it a good idea to bring the troops home. Now I don''''t want them here.
Posted by newsjunky5

Gee, newsjunky5, you mean we were to take that as sarcasm? Get real. You went off on these guys, and now you are trying to take it back.

[Netterz]

No where in this article, does it say that this young man was military. So instead of falsely inciting that he is possibly a military man with PSTD as the reason this young man suffered some sort of mental incapacity while on this flight, stick to what is written. All I see here is with almost every news post, some one, some how, who most likely has NEVER been in the military, manages to bring the war, military, politics, issues of the like into the conversation. This young man, who is not identified, other than being clean cut and in his early 20''s,is just merely, a young man, who for all we know, might not even be an American, well enough a vet. Maybe his girlfriend just left him, or his cat died, millions of other possible reasons he could have decided to do this over. I guess some of you just need to realize that occasionally, people just SNAP, for no apparent reason. Please leave our fine men and women who are defending your very right to post, out of it, not all suffer from mental illness, in fact, most do not. They are generally very strong people and have learned to deal with there lives and choice of being Military. By posting such things as being related to such an instance is insulting, and degrading to those who do have issues, that they are trying to work through. If you are not Military, then you have no personal idea of what, or how, they are dealing with there choice to protect you here and abroad, to make such statements.

[nssherlock1]

He knew the soccer team was on board and he just wanted a ''header''.

[rushlimpdrug]

"Members of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer were among those who grabbed the passenger"


I thought in soccer they could only grab the ball
while in the air.

Guess the rule change is if the "player" is in
the air they can grab him also.

[toolmangler-2009]

However I''''m not really sure how to take that comment.
Posted by newsjunky5 at 03:54 PM : Jul 19, 2008


you can wish and hope all you want, but it won''t do you any good, He died with ''Wiley Post'' the famous pilot before you were born. Go find someone else to belittle.

http://explorenorth.com/library/aviation/post-rogers.html

[connie91935]

Good for you oldthought..

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by OldThought at 05:23 PM : Jul 19, 2008



Very good, 100% agreement.

[hhroams]

He probably was like Dubya and talking to god and thought it would be a good thing to do to take off his clothes or jump out the emergency door.

[hypnotoad72]

Let me guess: He was aiming for ''the mile high club'' without needing assistance from anybody else?

:eek:

[dedad1]

newsjunky5 you aint funny - oldthought- you rock

[libsluv2spit]

good thing it was not a flight from chicago to san francisco...with the "queer eye for straight guy" team..

they would had plugged his emergency rear exit..

[whiskyrocker]

Step1. Restrain
Step2. Drop altitude
Step3. Open Door
Step4. Throw idiot out

[Meg003]

Step1. Restrain
Step2. Drop altitude
Step3. Open Door
Step4. Throw idiot out

Posted by whiskyrocker

You left out a step. Before they throw you out, whiskyrocker, they should fly over a non populated area.

[whiskyrocker]

Meg001
------
Sorry haven''t had to use this procedure in awhile. Thanks for the correction

[carolcape]

Probaby was on some bad drugs before he got on the flight and didn''t even think he was in the air, apparently he was flying high before he got on the aircraft. Glad he wasn''t successful in doing harm to anyone and everyone landed safe. Good going guys.

[annd2302]

dartngriss, have you lost your ever lovin stipid mind? What in the hell are you speaking of? Do not answer that, you don''t have the IQ to. You are at the bottom of the scale, I mean the very bottom.........

[annd2302]

And you "fervan" did any of your mother''s children survive childbirth?

[wgregh1]

Maybe he found out about his bank''s "Texas ratio" while reading on the inflight john. Have mercy on him.

[shanev137]

They should have let him jump out of the plane.

[Meg003]

They should have let him jump out of the plane.

Posted by shanev137

At 30,000 feet, they should have let him open the door? Were you too young for the seventies? Go rent an Airport disaster film, and add to your education.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by dartngriss at 07:50 PM : Jul 19, 2008

dartngriss AKA Oakishpines or leafsntrees posts run-on statements of ambiguity with an obvious attempt to shock or confuse the reader and at the same time appear ''mystically brilliant''. How droll, ''not''