CALIFORNIA- Authorities reported that a student pilot attempted to gain access to the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight bound for Dulles (IAD), Virginia, stating to crew members that he was simply “testing them” with this perilous act.
Nathan Jones, aged 19, was an Alaska Airlines Flight AS322 passenger traveling from San Diego (SAN) to Dulles International Airport on March 3.
Student Pilot Tries to Open Alaska Cockpit Door
According to an affidavit by Federal Air Marshal Thomas Pattinson, Jones “made three separate attempts to go to the front of the plane and open the aircraft’s cockpit door.”
In response, flight attendants sought assistance from off-duty law enforcement officers, who then restrained Jones with flex cuffs and positioned themselves on either side of him for the remainder of the flight, as noted by Pattinson.
Upon questioning by flight attendants regarding his actions, Jones allegedly claimed he “was testing them,” according to the affidavit.
Jones faces charges of alleged interference with a flight crew, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.
Mental illness
Before this incident, Jones resided with his mother in Northern Virginia. Defense attorney Robert Jenkins seeks a psychological evaluation of his client before any trial proceedings.
“We are deeply concerned about his mental well-being,” Jenkins stated in a communication to NBC News on Wednesday. “I plan to request a competency evaluation from the court.”
The defense team submitted a letter on Wednesday from jail personnel in Alexandria, Virginia, stating that Jones is under suicide watch due to exhibiting “incoherent speech, disorganized behavior, mood swings, and signs of psychosis.”
According to Anne Zalewski, a licensed clinical social worker at the jail, Jones requires hospital-level care to stabilize his altered mental state, which appears to be associated with psychiatric illness.
Official Remarks
The FAA stated on Wednesday that it is aware of the incident, which has been labeled as a “passenger disturbance.” According to the agency, the flight in question landed safely, and the FAA is conducting an investigation.
Alaska Airlines described the individual involved as “a passenger who appeared confused and attempted to access the flight deck in a non-violent manner,” as stated in a Wednesday statement from the carrier.
“The passenger did not comply with instructions, prompting our flight crew to seek assistance from off-duty law enforcement officers to restrain him,” Alaska Airlines elaborated. “The flight continued to IAD without any further incidents. The passenger was apprehended by local law enforcement and has been prohibited from traveling with our airline.”
According to information on its website, the FAA has documented 320 incidents involving unruly passengers in 2024. Specifically, there were 145 reports in January and an additional 175 reports filed in February.
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