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.

[Meg003]

Posted by ToolMangler

dartngriss is afflicted with junior high know-it-all syndrome. Most people do grow out of this in high school, so there is hope.

[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''

[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.

[shanev137]

They should have let him jump out of the plane.

[wgregh1]

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

[annd2302]

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

[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.........

[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.

[whiskyrocker]

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

[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.