A Copa Airlines passenger was detained by authorities in Panama City on Tuesday after a flight from Brasilia, Brazil. Minutes before the flight’s arrival, the unruly man attempted to open one of the aircraft doors, which prompted the cabin crew and other passengers to intervene.
Multiple people were needed to restrain the passenger, who was reportedly described as “too strong” by another person onboard. The early morning flight was scheduled to arrive in Panama City just after 06:00, but was delayed about 20 minutes due to the incident.
Details of the incident
According to the New York Post, CM204 originated from Brasília–President Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB). Data from FlightAware shows that the flight was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 9 and had left its gate at 01:53 on Tuesday. By 02:18, it was airborne and headed northeast, reaching a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet.
Photo: Copa Airlines
As the flight crossed over South America, it remained uneventful. It was not until a half hour before landing at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) when chaos ensued. Cristiano Carvalho was onboard the flight, and described the incident to the New York Post. Carvalho said the man “went past the back emergency door after the warning” and then “started moving forward and trying to open it.”
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Passengers and flight attendants reportedly sprung into action to stop the man, but he reportedly put up a fight.
“A flight attendant started screaming, and another tried to hold him back, but couldn’t because he was too strong,” Carvalho explained.
Restraining the passenger
Video posted on X shows at least four other men attempting to gain control of the man.
Thankfully, the crew and other passengers were able to restrain the passenger, who ended up with his face covered in blood. Carvalho reportedly said the crazed man was beaten “a lot until he almost lost consciousness.”
In a statement obtained by MENAFN, Copa confirmed the incident and applauded the crew and the other passengers who assisted.
“The crew acted quickly and, with the assistance of some passengers, applied the necessary security protocols to control the situation until landing in Panama. Upon arrival in Panama, national security personnel boarded the aircraft and removed the passenger, to bring him before the judicial authorities.”
Photo: Matheus Obst | Shutterstock
CM204 landed in Panama City at 06:16, according to FlightAware. It was scheduled to arrive at its gate at 06:06, but did not arrive until 06:26. The extra 20 minutes added to the already lengthy flight, which was over six hours.
Zero-tolerance policy
The motive for the man’s actions was not immediately clear. Additionally, it is unclear whether he is facing any charges or jail time. Unruly passenger incidents in the US skyrocketed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. So far this year, there have been more than 1,780 incidents, which is a stark contrast to the nearly 6,000 incidents recorded in 2021 – a 492% increase compared to 2020, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Passengers guilty of unruly behavior face hefty consequences, as the FAA has a zero-tolerance policy. In 2023, the agency issued $7.5 million in fines from 2,076 incidents.
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Publish date : 2024-11-06 17:46:00
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