Passenger Restrained On British Airways Flight To Boston, Allegedly Tried To Open Exit Door
BOSTON (CBS) -- An intoxicated female passenger on a British Airways flight bound to Boston had to be restrained after trying to open an exit door, officials said Tuesday.
"A passenger on British Airways Flight 213, a 777 en route from Heathrow to Boston, tried to open an exit door and has been restrained," the FAA said in a statement.
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Massachusetts State Police met the flight at Logan International Airport at about 1:30 p.m. They said the woman, 32-year-old Kamila Dolniak of Poland, was intoxicated, and there was no known terrorism connection.
"At first impression I thought she was having a panic attack, they gave her three seats to lie down on and then all of a sudden she started to become really not responsive to calming down," a passenger seated near Dolniak said.
"She was kicking, she was stretching out her arms, so they had to tie her down, they had to get handcuffs and they had to put handcuffs on her feet as well," she said.
Investigation determines passenger was intoxicated, tried to open EXIT door, not cockpit door. No known nexus to terrorism at this time.
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 17, 2015
One passenger said she was unaware of the incident until she saw police escorting her off the plane.
"It was completely normal, service went on regular and everyone just kind of went about their business," she said.
Passngers emerging from British Airways 213 say they were unaware of disturbance. Believe unruly passeger was arrested 3hrs into flight.
— Lana Jones (@Lanawbz) November 17, 2015
State Police say Dolniak faces charges of at interfering with a flight crew. She is expected to appear in East Boston District Court Wednesday morning.
"Our customers and crew deserve to have a safe and enjoyable flight and we do not tolerate abusive behavior," a British Airways spokeswoman told WBZ. "Our crew have requested that police meet the flight in Boston due to an unruly customer on board."
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Lana Jones reports