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|
Attributes | |
ACN | 661547 |
Time | |
Date | 200506 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | airport : tjsj.airport |
State Reference | PR |
Environment | |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude descent : vacating altitude |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Person 1 | |
Affiliation | company : air carrier |
Function | flight attendant : on duty |
Qualification | flight attendant : currently qualified flight attendant aircraft qualified on : 5 |
Experience | flight attendant time airline total : 16 flight attendant time total : 16 flight attendant time type : 33 |
ASRS Report | 661547 |
Person 2 | |
Function | observation : passenger |
Events | |
Anomaly | cabin event : passenger misconduct other anomaly other |
Independent Detector | other other : 3 |
Resolutory Action | other |
Consequence | other other |
Supplementary | |
Problem Areas | Passenger Human Performance |
Primary Problem | Passenger Human Performance |
Narrative:
After the captain made the initial descent into tjsj announcement; I went forward to door 2LR to do checks and pick-up. I was motioned by a couple in xy to look at the man in Z. When I got there; the couple said something was wrong with the man next to them. He was violently trying to get out of his seat; but he had his seatbelt still on him. I asked him if he was ok; and he did not respond or look at me; as if I were not there. Concerned that he was hurting himself and probably only had to use the lavatory; I unsnapped his seatbelt and he got up and proceeded aft. Something told me to follow him. The #1; #2 and #4 flight attendants were in the galley. I motioned to them as he and I were near the galley/bathroom area that I did not know what was going on with him. He passed the bathrooms and proceeded into the aft galley; where he just stood there. I told the #2 flight attendant; who was the speaker; that maybe he does not speak english and to tell him where the bathroom is. She said something in spanish. Again he did not respond; just looking. Just as she and I looked at each other in awe; he reached out and went to the 3L door. I shouted to the #2 flight attendants 'he's going to open the door!' she tried to step somewhat between him and the door and held out her hand to stop him. Suddenly he yelled and smacked her in the face. He then started to grab; pushing and pulling her in and at the face very violently. He was grunting loudly. After a second or two of being in shock; I went to try to pull the man off of the #2 flight attendant. He was extremely strong. He was about 5 ft 6 inches to 5 ft 7 inches; 160-170 pounds; and mid-to-late 60's. I began to pull him. He then turned and went after me; pushing me into door 3R area. I believe he still had a hand on her. We continued to struggle with the man. I yelled to get him down; and as we started wrestling to ground; he grabbed my right leg; between my ankle and shin; and was trying to bring it to his mouth. I was able to free my leg and we continued to fight with him to keep him near/on the floor. One of us shouted for the cuffs. As the #4 flight attendant went for her cuffs and man (helper) came and was wriggling his way between she and I to help hold him down. The #4 flight attendant returned with the cuffs as well as some other men (helpers). Once the helpers had hold of him; I moved back to the lavatory area. I chimed the cockpit to tell them what was happening. I was shaking so that I do not know what I said. I then realized that another flight attendant was on the phone with them already. I then thought and paged for a doctor or nurse. I noticed that most of the aft part of the cabin was up in the aisle and I could not see if anyone was coming and made another PA for everyone to situation down and everything was ok. No one came. I turned back to the incident; to see the helpers struggling still with the man. His legs were flailing and kicking. I asked if I should get my cuffs for his ankle and all agreed. I went to door 2L to get mine; and as I was coming back; a man in the lhs window exit said he was an emt and if I needed his help. I took him back and by this time there was a woman there who ended up being a pharmacist standing there. I told the galley crowd that this man was an emt. He got into the situation. I noticed that there was now liquid flowing on the floor. I asked the crowd what was that; and one of the helpers responded that it was urine. I gave my cuffs to the helper and he and another put them on. I made sure to tell him to check to see that he should get 1 finger between the cuffs and the ankles. I noticed that the man had on 1 shoe at this point and his feet looked swollen. I told a helper to remove the other shoe. I was concerned that he might hurt someone with the shoe still on his foot. The helper did and the guy repeatedly told him to put it back on. I told the helper to do so. The #1 flight attendant asked me to get the oxygen and I got the one from the lhs doghouse. I turned it on; pinched the bag and gave it to the woman. The captain made the prepare for landing announcement and I went forward to do more checks. We unfortunately had 15 unaccompanied minors; repeat 15 unaccompanied minors on this flight. Fortunately; during boarding we were able to get them together except for two. I moved the 2 to first class; cleared 36A-C; 35A-C to first class to accommodate the man and the helpers. We seated the man in 36A; and helpers in 36BCD and in 35A&C. I also went back to the couple that was sitting next to him and asked if he had any bags and was he with them. They said no to each question; saying that they had seen him in the boarding area and he didn't have any bags with him. When we landed; we were met by some tjsj supervisors and lots of police and some paramedics. Paramedics boarded and took him off. His demeanor was normal -- totally opposite of the anger we had seen -- and his appearance physically looked as if he had been in a fight and he had on 1 set of cuffs on his wrists. The #2 flight attendant and I spoke to police and they said they wanted to take us to the station since this was now an fbi situation. After deplaning the passenger and the 15 unaccompanied minors; she and I went to the tjsj police station at the airport. We were there over 3 hours. The fbi agent said that they are going to prosecute the man.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PAX ABOARD B757 BECAME VIOLENT DURING DSCNT TO INTL DEST IS RESTRAINED AND TURNED OVER TO AUTHS.
Narrative: AFTER THE CAPT MADE THE INITIAL DSCNT INTO TJSJ ANNOUNCEMENT; I WENT FORWARD TO DOOR 2LR TO DO CHKS AND PICK-UP. I WAS MOTIONED BY A COUPLE IN XY TO LOOK AT THE MAN IN Z. WHEN I GOT THERE; THE COUPLE SAID SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE MAN NEXT TO THEM. HE WAS VIOLENTLY TRYING TO GET OUT OF HIS SEAT; BUT HE HAD HIS SEATBELT STILL ON HIM. I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS OK; AND HE DID NOT RESPOND OR LOOK AT ME; AS IF I WERE NOT THERE. CONCERNED THAT HE WAS HURTING HIMSELF AND PROBABLY ONLY HAD TO USE THE LAVATORY; I UNSNAPPED HIS SEATBELT AND HE GOT UP AND PROCEEDED AFT. SOMETHING TOLD ME TO FOLLOW HIM. THE #1; #2 AND #4 FLT ATTENDANTS WERE IN THE GALLEY. I MOTIONED TO THEM AS HE AND I WERE NEAR THE GALLEY/BATHROOM AREA THAT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH HIM. HE PASSED THE BATHROOMS AND PROCEEDED INTO THE AFT GALLEY; WHERE HE JUST STOOD THERE. I TOLD THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT; WHO WAS THE SPEAKER; THAT MAYBE HE DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND TO TELL HIM WHERE THE BATHROOM IS. SHE SAID SOMETHING IN SPANISH. AGAIN HE DID NOT RESPOND; JUST LOOKING. JUST AS SHE AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER IN AWE; HE REACHED OUT AND WENT TO THE 3L DOOR. I SHOUTED TO THE #2 FLT ATTENDANTS 'HE'S GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR!' SHE TRIED TO STEP SOMEWHAT BTWN HIM AND THE DOOR AND HELD OUT HER HAND TO STOP HIM. SUDDENLY HE YELLED AND SMACKED HER IN THE FACE. HE THEN STARTED TO GRAB; PUSHING AND PULLING HER IN AND AT THE FACE VERY VIOLENTLY. HE WAS GRUNTING LOUDLY. AFTER A SECOND OR TWO OF BEING IN SHOCK; I WENT TO TRY TO PULL THE MAN OFF OF THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT. HE WAS EXTREMELY STRONG. HE WAS ABOUT 5 FT 6 INCHES TO 5 FT 7 INCHES; 160-170 LBS; AND MID-TO-LATE 60'S. I BEGAN TO PULL HIM. HE THEN TURNED AND WENT AFTER ME; PUSHING ME INTO DOOR 3R AREA. I BELIEVE HE STILL HAD A HAND ON HER. WE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE WITH THE MAN. I YELLED TO GET HIM DOWN; AND AS WE STARTED WRESTLING TO GND; HE GRABBED MY R LEG; BTWN MY ANKLE AND SHIN; AND WAS TRYING TO BRING IT TO HIS MOUTH. I WAS ABLE TO FREE MY LEG AND WE CONTINUED TO FIGHT WITH HIM TO KEEP HIM NEAR/ON THE FLOOR. ONE OF US SHOUTED FOR THE CUFFS. AS THE #4 FLT ATTENDANT WENT FOR HER CUFFS AND MAN (HELPER) CAME AND WAS WRIGGLING HIS WAY BTWN SHE AND I TO HELP HOLD HIM DOWN. THE #4 FLT ATTENDANT RETURNED WITH THE CUFFS AS WELL AS SOME OTHER MEN (HELPERS). ONCE THE HELPERS HAD HOLD OF HIM; I MOVED BACK TO THE LAVATORY AREA. I CHIMED THE COCKPIT TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I WAS SHAKING SO THAT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I SAID. I THEN REALIZED THAT ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THEM ALREADY. I THEN THOUGHT AND PAGED FOR A DOCTOR OR NURSE. I NOTICED THAT MOST OF THE AFT PART OF THE CABIN WAS UP IN THE AISLE AND I COULD NOT SEE IF ANYONE WAS COMING AND MADE ANOTHER PA FOR EVERYONE TO SIT DOWN AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. NO ONE CAME. I TURNED BACK TO THE INCIDENT; TO SEE THE HELPERS STRUGGLING STILL WITH THE MAN. HIS LEGS WERE FLAILING AND KICKING. I ASKED IF I SHOULD GET MY CUFFS FOR HIS ANKLE AND ALL AGREED. I WENT TO DOOR 2L TO GET MINE; AND AS I WAS COMING BACK; A MAN IN THE LHS WINDOW EXIT SAID HE WAS AN EMT AND IF I NEEDED HIS HELP. I TOOK HIM BACK AND BY THIS TIME THERE WAS A WOMAN THERE WHO ENDED UP BEING A PHARMACIST STANDING THERE. I TOLD THE GALLEY CROWD THAT THIS MAN WAS AN EMT. HE GOT INTO THE SITUATION. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOW LIQUID FLOWING ON THE FLOOR. I ASKED THE CROWD WHAT WAS THAT; AND ONE OF THE HELPERS RESPONDED THAT IT WAS URINE. I GAVE MY CUFFS TO THE HELPER AND HE AND ANOTHER PUT THEM ON. I MADE SURE TO TELL HIM TO CHK TO SEE THAT HE SHOULD GET 1 FINGER BTWN THE CUFFS AND THE ANKLES. I NOTICED THAT THE MAN HAD ON 1 SHOE AT THIS POINT AND HIS FEET LOOKED SWOLLEN. I TOLD A HELPER TO REMOVE THE OTHER SHOE. I WAS CONCERNED THAT HE MIGHT HURT SOMEONE WITH THE SHOE STILL ON HIS FOOT. THE HELPER DID AND THE GUY REPEATEDLY TOLD HIM TO PUT IT BACK ON. I TOLD THE HELPER TO DO SO. THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT ASKED ME TO GET THE OXYGEN AND I GOT THE ONE FROM THE LHS DOGHOUSE. I TURNED IT ON; PINCHED THE BAG AND GAVE IT TO THE WOMAN. THE CAPT MADE THE PREPARE FOR LNDG ANNOUNCEMENT AND I WENT FORWARD TO DO MORE CHKS. WE UNFORTUNATELY HAD 15 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS; REPEAT 15 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ON THIS FLT. FORTUNATELY; DURING BOARDING WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM TOGETHER EXCEPT FOR TWO. I MOVED THE 2 TO FIRST CLASS; CLRED 36A-C; 35A-C TO FIRST CLASS TO ACCOMMODATE THE MAN AND THE HELPERS. WE SEATED THE MAN IN 36A; AND HELPERS IN 36BCD AND IN 35A&C. I ALSO WENT BACK TO THE COUPLE THAT WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM AND ASKED IF HE HAD ANY BAGS AND WAS HE WITH THEM. THEY SAID NO TO EACH QUESTION; SAYING THAT THEY HAD SEEN HIM IN THE BOARDING AREA AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BAGS WITH HIM. WHEN WE LANDED; WE WERE MET BY SOME TJSJ SUPVRS AND LOTS OF POLICE AND SOME PARAMEDICS. PARAMEDICS BOARDED AND TOOK HIM OFF. HIS DEMEANOR WAS NORMAL -- TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF THE ANGER WE HAD SEEN -- AND HIS APPEARANCE PHYSICALLY LOOKED AS IF HE HAD BEEN IN A FIGHT AND HE HAD ON 1 SET OF CUFFS ON HIS WRISTS. THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT AND I SPOKE TO POLICE AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO TAKE US TO THE STATION SINCE THIS WAS NOW AN FBI SITUATION. AFTER DEPLANING THE PAX AND THE 15 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS; SHE AND I WENT TO THE TJSJ POLICE STATION AT THE ARPT. WE WERE THERE OVER 3 HRS. THE FBI AGENT SAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROSECUTE THE MAN.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.