Narrative:

Passenger became irate over his seat and wanted to move from [the back of economy class] near the bathroom; to business class or first class. When he was told by another flight attendant that he had to stay in his cabin; he became violent and hit the number 6. It took 5 men to subdue him and put the flex cuffs on him. He was reseated to [the front of economy class] and when I got off of break; about 30 minutes later (or more don't know the time); he was still thrashing around. He managed to get his arms forward by slipping them under his rear and through his legs. His hands were now in front. He was biting crew and passengers; as well as kicking. He kicked a hole in the fuselage [sidewall]. Passengers jumped in when they heard the flight attendant ask for help. This man was german; and I yelled at him in german 'don't do that!'. He was given water; but refused (violently). He got out of the flex cuffs and I used mine; which didn't work (these are the new ones). They also used restraint tape; but he also got out of that. We need better flex cuffs; or real handcuffs; as well as better restraint tape! The captain was informed the whole time and didn't want to divert the aircraft. It took at least 2 hours for the captain to realize how bad the situation was and he even came out of the cockpit to look for himself before deciding to land. We weren't accepted [at the first airport] and had to go on to another. The passenger was taken off by local police; but we doubt he will be charged.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 Flight Attendant describes a violent passenger that is eventually subdued by passengers and crew and cuffed. After the passenger escapes from the flex cuffs the flight diverts and the passenger is removed by local police.

Narrative: Passenger became irate over his seat and wanted to move from [the back of Economy Class] near the bathroom; to Business Class or First Class. When he was told by another flight attendant that he had to stay in his cabin; he became violent and hit the Number 6. It took 5 men to subdue him and put the flex cuffs on him. He was reseated to [the front of Economy Class] and when I got off of break; about 30 minutes later (or more don't know the time); he was still thrashing around. He managed to get his arms forward by slipping them under his rear and through his legs. His hands were now in front. He was biting crew and passengers; as well as kicking. He kicked a hole in the fuselage [sidewall]. Passengers jumped in when they heard the flight attendant ask for help. This man was German; and I yelled at him in German 'Don't do that!'. He was given water; but refused (violently). He got out of the flex cuffs and I used mine; which didn't work (these are the new ones). They also used restraint tape; but he also got out of that. We need better flex cuffs; or real handcuffs; as well as better restraint tape! The Captain was informed the whole time and didn't want to divert the aircraft. It took at least 2 hours for the Captain to realize how bad the situation was and he even came out of the cockpit to look for himself before deciding to land. We weren't accepted [at the first airport] and had to go on to another. The passenger was taken off by local police; but we doubt he will be charged.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.