International Flight Diverted to Seattle After Man ‘Crawled Over’ Passengers in Attempt to Open Airplane Door Mid-Air

A man had to be restrained by other passengers and crew onboard a Houston-bound flight after allegedly trying to open an exit door mid-air.

All Nippon Airways flight NH0114 from Tokyo was initially scheduled to arrive at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport at 8:25 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 24, Click2Houston reported. However, when there were around four hours left of the journey, the plane had to be diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport due to an onboard incident.

According to airport officials, per Fox26, police were called about a man having allegedly attempted to open a door during the flight. Two military veterans who were onboard assisted the crew in restraining the man.

Once the plane landed, the man was taken by EMS to a nearby hospital, where it was determined that he had been having a medical crisis, Click2Houston and Fox26 reported. No further details on the passenger or his condition have been released at this time.

Ashley, a passenger who was sitting in front of the man, told Fox26 that she initially wasn’t suspicious of him.

“He actually got up from his seat and crawled over the people next to him,” Ashley said, according to the outlet. “He got up in a hurry, and I just assumed he was sick.”

Having then allegedly attempted to open the emergency exit, Ashley told Fox26 that passengers zip-tied the man to his seat. He sat restrained behind her for over an hour before the fight landed in Seattle.

“It was incredible,” Ashley said, according to the outlet. “I do want to say thank you to those kind citizens who stood up and took control. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

The flight landed safely at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport around 4:19 a.m. local time, Click2Houston reported. A second passenger behaved strangely at the time and had to be escorted off by officials.

The flight eventually made it to Houston around midday, according to FlightAware.

“Today, All Nippon Airways flight NH114 departing Tokyo Haneda Airport for Houston Intercontinental Airport was diverted in-flight to Seattle due to an unruly passenger,” All Nippon Airways said in a statement, per Click2Houston. “While on the tarmac in Seattle, a second passenger became unruly. Both were removed from the flight by the Port of Seattle Police. The flight to Houston continued without incident.”

The airline added, “The safety our passengers and crew are our top priority and we applaud the efforts of local law enforcement for their support.”