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| Fighters escort airliner after loon tries to enter cockpit |
| 2001-10-08 |
Air Force fighter planes were sent to escort an American Airlines jetliner today after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit of the plane, federal officials said. Preliminary reports indicated there was not an attempted hijacking aboard the plane, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Marcia Adams. No one was injured, and the plane was escorted safely to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The passenger, described later by his father as having a history of mental illness, was subdued aboard Flight 1238 from Los Angeles to Chicago after trying to get into the cockpit. "The male individual was physically restrained by other passengers," American Airline spokesman Al Becker said. "This appears to be an isolated incident." The captain of the Boeing 767, which was carrying a crew of nine and 153 passengers, declared an emergency. The F-16s were then dispatched to escort the plane. The passenger was taken into custody but was not immediately charged with a crime. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |