Passenger Removed From Flight At MIA
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – There were some harrowing moments on an American Airlines flight Friday morning when a passenger became unruly and stormed towards the front of the plane.
The flight, American Airlines Flight 320, had 165 passengers on board and had just landed at Miami International Airport when the passenger, 24-year-old Canadian citizen Ryan Snider, got out of his seat and refused to obey any commands.
"One minute he got up and lost it," said passenger Malik Cann.
According to Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, Snider appeared to be drunk and then tried to run towards the cockpit. A source familiar with the investigation told CBS News the cockpit door was bumped, but the captain never thought there was a security threat.
Passengers, including Cann, grabbed Snider and restrained him.
"A couple of us had his arms locked behind him, so they were locked behind him," Cann said. "I was able to get his arms and put him in kind of a police move, because I'm a licensed security guard in Bermuda, so I put him in this kind of position and I locked him in and then I stayed on top of his body. There was another person with me."
CBS4's Peter D'Oench asked Cann why he felt like he needed to step up and take action.
"I felt I had to do this not just because that for the safety of myself and the safety to others on the plane; but it's kind of a generous way of how I do things," Cann said.
The plane, a Boeing 757-200, landed at MIA and stopped at Gate D48 where police were waiting to take the man into custody. Miami-Dade Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene, and at least one bag was taken off the plane and examined.
While Cann wasn't shaken, other passengers were terrified saying there were women and children and elderly people on board and that Snider terrified a lot of people.
"I don't know why he did it or how it came about. One minute he was practically fine, then this happened. I was shocked," Cann said. "I have never seen anyone like that in my life before arrested and taken off a plane. I feel kind of ashamed that it happened because now everyone has to suffer. It all started when we were about 20 minutes out of Miami. The gentleman was told to take a seat, but he did not follow instructions. Anything could have happened if he reached the cockpit door. He could have brought down the plane."
The unruly passenger was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest by Miami-Dade Police. The FBI said there was no connection to terrorism and Snider was not on the "No Fly List."
Federal officials said Snider is currently in federal custody and is expected to face Federal charges which may include interference with a flight crew.
Snider will make his first court appearance on Tuesday in Miami Federal Court.
The FBI is leading the investigation but is being assisted by Miami-Dade Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FAMS, and U.S. Border Patrol.
Cann said he's not likely to forget this troubled flight, but said he has no regrets about what he did.
"Yes, I would do it again," Cann said when asked if he would take the same action he did Friday.
