Emergency Landing in Kansas City, MO, After Los Angeles Man Attempts to Open Emergency Door

A Los Angeles man now faces charges after attempting to open up the exit door during a flight, causing an emergency landing in Kansas City, MO.

The article, written by CBSLA staff, states:

“‘American Airlines flight 1775 with service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington, D.C. (DCA) diverted to Kansas City (MCI) due to an unruly passenger,’ the statement, provided to CNN, said.”

“‘The flight landed safely at MCI at 2:28 p.m. local time, and law enforcement was requested to meet the flight on arrival’” it added. ‘We’re grateful to our crew members, who are consistently dedicated to the safety and care of our customers and who handled the circumstances with the utmost skill and professionalism.’”

“Mouaz Moustafa, a resident of Washington, DC, was aboard the flight and told CNN he saw a flight attendant yelling to another flight attendant to turn the lights on. The plane began rapidly descending, Moustafa said.”

“According to federal officials, Rivas created a disturbance that escalated when he walked up to the cockpit area. A flight attendant told federal agents he felt threatened when Rivas took plastic silverware and held it “like a shank.” Rivas then grabbed a small champagne bottle by its neck and tried to break it on a counter, then kicked and shoved a service cart into one of the flight attendants, according to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint.”

“Rivas, who was described as being 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, then grabbed the handles of an exit door and started pulling on hard on it, authorities said. A flight attendant used a coffee pot to hit him in the head in an attempt to stop Rivas, while several other passengers jumped up to help. One of the passengers, a police officer, struggled with Rivas and pulled him away from the door, another passenger punched him in the jaw, while a third passenger grabbed his neck and pulled him to the floor. They all worked together to restrain Rivas before his hands and feet could be secured with zip ties and duct tape, federal officials said.”

Staff, C. B. S. L. A. (2022, February 14). Los Angeles man faces charges after attempt to open exit door on flight forces emergency landing in Kansas City, MO.. CBS Los Angeles. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2022/02/14/la-man-juan-remberto-rivas-charged-american-airlines-emergency-landing-kansas-city/