Murdoughnut
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http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/07/Tampabay/Possible_plane_attack.shtml
Possible plane attack thwarted
By REBECCA CATALANELLO, Times Staff Writer
Published July 7, 2006
TAMPA — Passengers physically restrained a man on a flight from New York City who stormed toward the cockpit of a Delta flight as it was about to land at Tampa International Airport shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday.
New York resident Jason Moore, 27, visiting family in St. Petersburg, said he was sitting two rows from the rear of the plane when a man took a seat at the very back of the aircraft 15 or 20 minutes before it was scheduled to land.
“I didn’t hear him say a word. He just kind of seemed like he was nervous, he was anxious,’’ Moore said.
He described the man as Hispanic, 25 to 30 years old, wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat.
About five minutes before the plane was scheduled to touch down, the man stood up, Moore said, and ran “like he was running in a track meet’’ down the aisle toward the cockpit.
Passengers in the first class section heard the commotion, saw him coming, and two to three large men in that section tackled and restrained the man, Moore said.
“It was really inspiring to see that,’’ he said of their reaction, recalling 9-11. You could hear him running down the aisle quickly, and they got up and intervened, he said.
“They didn’t need to know anything else. They just got up and contained him.’’
He said the man spoke Spanish, and when he was sitting at the back of the plane, he behaved oddly, tapping people on the shoulder and pointing to some oriental tattoos on his arms. Flight attendants brought someone who had been seated with him at the front to speak with him at one point, Moore said.
The last time he saw him, he was seated in wheelchair in handcuffs, he said.
“He just looked like he didn’t know what was going on.’’
The plane took off from La Guardia Airport at 8:05 p.m. and landed at 11:10. p.m.
Police questioned the passengers who were involved and members of the crew, Moore said.
He called it “definitely the most interesting flight I’ve ever been on.’’
Tampa Fire Rescue officials said they responded to the call, but referred questions to airport authorities. TIA spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan could not be reached for comment.
Possible plane attack thwarted
By REBECCA CATALANELLO, Times Staff Writer
Published July 7, 2006
TAMPA — Passengers physically restrained a man on a flight from New York City who stormed toward the cockpit of a Delta flight as it was about to land at Tampa International Airport shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday.
New York resident Jason Moore, 27, visiting family in St. Petersburg, said he was sitting two rows from the rear of the plane when a man took a seat at the very back of the aircraft 15 or 20 minutes before it was scheduled to land.
“I didn’t hear him say a word. He just kind of seemed like he was nervous, he was anxious,’’ Moore said.
He described the man as Hispanic, 25 to 30 years old, wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat.
About five minutes before the plane was scheduled to touch down, the man stood up, Moore said, and ran “like he was running in a track meet’’ down the aisle toward the cockpit.
Passengers in the first class section heard the commotion, saw him coming, and two to three large men in that section tackled and restrained the man, Moore said.
“It was really inspiring to see that,’’ he said of their reaction, recalling 9-11. You could hear him running down the aisle quickly, and they got up and intervened, he said.
“They didn’t need to know anything else. They just got up and contained him.’’
He said the man spoke Spanish, and when he was sitting at the back of the plane, he behaved oddly, tapping people on the shoulder and pointing to some oriental tattoos on his arms. Flight attendants brought someone who had been seated with him at the front to speak with him at one point, Moore said.
The last time he saw him, he was seated in wheelchair in handcuffs, he said.
“He just looked like he didn’t know what was going on.’’
The plane took off from La Guardia Airport at 8:05 p.m. and landed at 11:10. p.m.
Police questioned the passengers who were involved and members of the crew, Moore said.
He called it “definitely the most interesting flight I’ve ever been on.’’
Tampa Fire Rescue officials said they responded to the call, but referred questions to airport authorities. TIA spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan could not be reached for comment.
