Posted on 12/10/2005 5:03:13 PM PST by WatchingInAmazement
A suspect is in federal custody after passengers say he threatened an infant and tried to charge the cockpit of an airplane en route to Honolulu. No air marshal was aboard, but seven passengers tackled and subdued him.
Passengers say the man's strange behavior started just a couple hours after Northwest Flight 91 took off from Los Angeles.
"He came up to first class several times, and at one point he really startled me... He came up to my left shoulder, and he got right in my face and he said something in Spanish -- he said something about medicine, like 'I need medicine,'" said passenger Linda Deckard from California.
She says the man even gestured threats toward a baby with a cell phone cord, and couldn't sit still. But thanks to one father's planning, a group of passengers are heroes to nearly 200 people on the flight.
"We got the word around first class that if he makes a move for the cockpit door, he's going down," said passenger Mike Deckard. "And that's just what happened. He made a move for the cockpit door and we were on top of him."
He and six others bound the suspect's hands and feet with a belt and cords from an on-board restraint pack.
"I think he's a hero," says Michael Deckard, age 13, about his dad. "I think he did a good job. Obviously he's watching a little bit of football with that tackle. Go dad!"
"If anybody's wants to try something, remember - there are 200 other people on the aircraft who are gonna stop you," Mike Deckard said.
The suspect is a 37-year-old Mexican national. He bit one man who helped tackle him -- a Honolulu Marathon runner who had to get a tetanus shot when they landed.
Passengers were questioned for a couple of hours after landing. The suspect is being held at the federal detention center.
You ain't the only one ...
I'm the same. As I walk to the back (coach) I make sure to scrutinize every person who is sitting in 1st Class and Business, especially paying attention to any Middle East appearing types. I also look about to see who are the biggest, fittest looking men in coach who could assist in taking down threats to the aircraft. I always keep in my bag two fine point pens plus an "extra" strap from my carryon bag with heavy clasps on each end. The pens make fine jabbing weapons for attacking the eyes in an extreme-threat CQB, the strap can be used to trap hands, as a garrote, and as a swung weapon. I usually have a heavy book that can be used as a blunt weapon and to deflect edged weapons. An unopened can of pop is an excellent thrown weapon, and can be used very effectively as a striking weapon. Finally, I always wear a thick leather belt that has a heavy buckle to use as my strap. It can be removed quickly yet is not viewed by TSA as a potential weapon. Ryuku kempo. Shows what they know...; )
Yes. They succeeded because first nobody on board AA11, UA 175 AA 77 dreamt this could happen. They sta back and did what the crew told them to do. UA 93 knew it by then and fought back. Second, 4 arab small-dicked pricks are no match for 20 or 30 angry American men, even democrats, in a fight to the death. There is no doubt a few of the defenders will get cut, some badly, maybe even killed, but the weight of defending numbers would prevail, I am sure of that.
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