Passengers Thwart Man Trying to Open Exit Door on Alaskan Airlines Flight

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A man was arrested Monday on a flight from Anchorage to Portland, Oregon, after passengers reported hearing him make alarming comments and then attempt to open the plane’s exit door. Travelers tackled him and used shoelaces and seat-belt extensions to keep him restrained until the plane’s landing.

Alexander Michael Herrera, 23, was arrested on Monday after attempting to open an airplane door on an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Portland. Flight 132 was already beginning its descent when the incident took place.

  

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FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele told reporters that Herrera reportedly made “unusual statements” before attempting to open an airplane exit door. Passenger Ryan Oelrich told ABC News that he awoke from a nap to the sounds of loud screaming and “heard someone screaming to stop him, take him down … I looked behind me and in the exit row was a very large gentleman who was attempting to open the exit row door.” In spite of Herrera’s 220-pound build, several passengers worked together to tackle him, pin him to the ground, and keep him subdued for the rest of the flight by tying up his legs with shoelaces and seat-belt extensions.

Upon landing in Portland, Herrera was immediately arrested by FBI agents on charges of “interfering with a flight crew.” Not much is known about Herrera at this point, although according to FBI officials, he is from Arizona. Herrera is currently awaiting trial from a Portland jail.

In spite of the unexpected incident, the flight still managed to arrive just nine minutes behind the scheduled time.