No criminal charges have been filed against the man, police said.
A man on a Southwest Airlines flight was arrested in New Orleans on Sunday after he allegedly jumped out of the emergency hatch and attempted to escape by climbing onto the wing as it prepared for takeoff.according to CNNThe 38-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, was arrested after he escaped through an emergency hatch at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and ran onto the tarmac, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) said. Announced.
Videos circulating on social media showed passengers being evacuated from the plane and rushing through the jetway.Separately shared photos new orleans tv The police station also showed footage of the emergency hatch falling and the moment the man was handcuffed and taken away by police.
Watch the video below.
WATCH: Passengers panic at New Orleans International Airport after a man abandons a Southwest Airlines plane through the emergency exit, throws objects on board and attempts to hijack an airport vehicle. pic.twitter.com/4auPHX4l4N
— Mariana (@lonestarherd) November 27, 2023
At the time of the incident, the plane was parked at the terminal and had not yet pushed back the gate for takeoff.
by new york post, a passenger who witnessed part of the incident said the 38-year-old man walked on the plane’s wing before jumping off and running across the tarmac. The witness added that he also tried to steal a service truck on the tarmac before being stopped by authorities.
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When officers contacted the man on the tarmac, he appeared “incoherent and not fully aware of his surroundings,” the sheriff’s office said. “He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation after police determined he was experiencing a mental health emergency,” officials said, adding that he remains hospitalized for now.
“There was no indication that the man had left anything on the plane, and he was not found in possession of any type of weapon. No criminal charges are expected to be filed locally, but the investigation has been referred to federal authorities. “No one was injured during the incident,” the statement continued. CNN.
The plane was delayed and departed on another aircraft, the paper said. Meanwhile, witnesses said the delay was about two hours and the plane arrived in Atlanta shortly before midnight.
