Current:Home > MarketsStudent pilot tried to open Alaska Airlines plane cockpit multiple times mid-flight, complaint says-LoTradeCoin
Student pilot tried to open Alaska Airlines plane cockpit multiple times mid-flight, complaint says
View Date:2024-12-23 19:24:17
A student pilot tried to open the door of an Alaska Airlines cockpit multiple times while the plane was in the air, according to court documents.
The flight was traveling from California to Virginia on March 3, according to an affidavit filed by federal air marshal Thomas G. Pattinson and reviewed by CBS News.
Pattinson said that the passenger, identified as Nathan Jones, was seated in the plane's seat 6E but left his seat multiple times. Jones made three separate attempts to go to the front of the plane and open the cockpit door, Pattinson said.
Flight attendants eventually requested help from off-duty law enforcement officers, who "restrained Jones in flex cuffs and sat on either side of him for the remainder of the flight," according to the affidavit. To prevent further disturbances, the flight deck was "locked down for the remainder of the flight," and the flight attendants used a beverage cart as a barrier to block entrance to the cockpit.
Jones told the flight attendants that he was "testing them," according to the affidavit. When the aircraft landed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, Jones allowed law enforcement to search his luggage, where agents found "multiple notebooks with writings describing how to operate an aircraft, including take-off, in-air, and landing techniques," according to the affidavit. His wallet also contained a student pilot's license, the affidavit said.
The Federal Aviation Administration told CBS News in a statement that the flight landed safely at around 3:30 local time after a the crew "reported a passenger disturbance." The incident is under investigation, the FAA said.
Jones was arrested and charged with interference with flight crew members. The maximum penalty for the charge is 20 years in prison.
"The charges against Mr. Jones are shocking to his mother and family," said Jones' lawyer, Robert J. Jenkins of Virginia's Bynum & Jenkins PLLC, in a statement provided to CBS News. "The allegations are completely inconsistent with the life he has lived. He is a young man without any history of criminal conduct or violence. At this stage we are acutely concerned with his mental health and are working to address his needs. We have confidence that at the end it will be clear that Mr. Jones never intended to harm or threaten anyone."
Jones will next appear for a detention hearing scheduled for March 18, according to court documents reviewed by CBS News. He will remain in custody until then.
The FAA said on its website that 320 unruly passenger incidents have been reported in 2024. This includes 145 reports in January and another 175 reports made in February.
- In:
- Alaska Airlines
- California
- Virginia
Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
TwitterveryGood! (7)
Related
- ‘Heretic’ and Hugh Grant debut with $11 million, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ tops box office again
- Minutes after Trump shooting, misinformation started flying. Here are the facts
- Social media influencers tell you to buy, buy, buy. Stop listening to them.
- Schools receive third — and potentially final — round of federal funding for homeless students
- Secret Service Agent Allegedly Took Ex to Barack Obama’s Beach House
- Watch: Satellite video tracks Beryl's path tearing through the Atlantic, Caribbean and U.S.
- Boston lawyer once named ‘most eligible bachelor’ is sentenced to 5-10 years for raping 21-year-old
- Shannen Doherty's Charmed Costar Brian Krause Shares Insight Into Her Final Days
- Are Dancing with the Stars’ Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber Living Together? She Says…
- Sarah Michelle Gellar Details Decades-Long Bond With Shannen Doherty After Her Death
Ranking
- New York nursing home operator accused of neglect settles with state for $45M
- Federal judge dismisses Trump classified documents case over concerns with prosecutor’s appointment
- 2024 Olympics: Gymnast Hezly Rivera Shares What It's Really Like to Be the New Girl on the Women's Team
- 1 killed, 6 injured when pickup truck collides with horse-drawn buggy in Virginia
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Take the Day Off
- Own a home or trying to buy or sell one? Watch out for these scams
- The RNC’s first day will still focus on the economy. Here’s what to know about Trump’s plans
- Trump's family reacts to assassination attempt: 'I love you Dad'
Recommendation
-
How Alex Jones’ Infowars wound up in the hands of The Onion
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Breaking Bread
-
England vs Spain highlights: Mikel Oyarzabal goal wins thrilling Euro 2024 final
-
Messi’s Copa America injury adds doubt for rest of 2024, 2026 World Cup
-
My Chemical Romance will perform 'The Black Parade' in full during 2025 tour: See dates
-
Second day of jury deliberations to start in Sen. Bob Menendez’s bribery trial
-
Trump shot at rally in failed assassination attempt. Here's everything we know so far.
-
Ahead of RNC in Wisconsin, state officials decry horrific act after Trump assassination attempt