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| Unruly Passenger Who Diverted Plane is Arrested |
| 2011-07-12 |
| [] The unruly passenger that caused United Airlines flight 944 headed from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany to make an unscheduled stop in Cleveland was nabbed Monday. Stephen D. Anthony, the special agent in charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI, and Chief Michael McGrath with the Cleveland Police Department announced Saleh Ali S. Alramakh, 21, was nabbed after he repeatedly disobeyed orders from flight attendants Friday and his behavior eventually escalated to shoving, kicking and spitting. The trouble allegedly began when Alramakh, of Akron, went into the restroom and used an electronic device during taxi in Chicago. Flight attendants asked that he immediately turn off the device and return to his seat. At first Alramakh refused, but eventually complied. Right after take off Alramakh returned to the restroom to use his electronic device once again despite the fact that passengers were required to remain seated with seat belts fastened. When Alramakh refused to cooperate with fight attendants' requests that he return to his seat, the attendants unlocked and opened the door. Alramakh became verbally abusive, Sherlocks said, then returned to his seat. But before long, Alramakh exited his seat for a third time and confronted a flight attendant in what was described as a 'belligerent, confrontational manner.' He was accused of speaking in a loud voice and using profanity while standing just inches from the flight attendant's face. Alramakh was asked to step back, but instead he allegedly shoved the flight attendant backward. At least one passenger intervened and helped the flight crew restrain him as he tried to kick and spit on anyone nearby. Cleveland Police Officers found Alramakh restrained on the floor when the plane landed at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport around 5:20 p.m. Friday. A police K-9 unit was brought in to sweep the plane and screen the luggage. Although the plane was refueled and cleared to continue its journey to Frankfurt, the aircraft remained grounded overnight because the flight crew had exceeded the allowed number of hours while on duty. Alramakh was nabbed by the FBI Monday for the federal felony charge of interference with flight crew members and attendants. He will appear in Cleveland Municipal Court Tuesday morning then be taken to Federal Court by U.S. Marshals. United Airlines says it is cooperating with authorities. |
| Posted by:Fred |