Brightness
02-07-2002, 02:50 PM
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - A passenger tried to force his way into the cockpit of a United Airlines plane carrying 157 people Thursday on a flight from Miami but was subdued after the co-pilot hit him over the head with a small ax.
Pablo Moreira, a banker from Uruguay, was restrained by the flight crew and later arrested by police after the flight landed as scheduled in Buenos Aires at 10:30 a.m. local time, said Judy Orihuela, an FBI (news - web sites) spokeswoman in Miami.
``No information at this time indicates it's a terrorist incident. But, of course, the FBI is investigating,'' said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for President Bush (news - web sites)'s Homeland Security Council.
United Airlines Flight 855 took off from Miami at midnight with 142 passengers and 15 crew members aboard. Moreira, 28, began kicking the cockpit door about five hours into the flight, as the jetliner flew over Brazil, Orihuela said.
The FBI spokeswoman said Moreira forced the door open, but United said he did not get inside the cockpit of the Boeing 777.
``The passenger never gained full entry due to the reinforced cockpit door bar United has installed on all of its fleet,'' Chairman and CEO Jack Creighton said in a statement.
Orihuela said the co-pilot grabbed a small ax and hit Moreira in the head, subduing him.
Moreira did not appear drunk and was not armed, she said, adding that she was unaware of any threats or what prompted him to try to enter the cockpit.
Moreira was restrained for the remainder of the flight but was provided medical attention, the airline said. He was lucid and in stable condition, Orihuela said, adding that a flight attendant also received minor injuries in the struggle, Orihuela said.
Moreira was turned over to local authorities in Argentina. He will be charged with interfering with a flight crew and flown back to Miami sometime Thursday, Orihuela said.
Brian Hopman, an Associated Press sales associate who was a passenger on the flight, said the man seemed as if he wanted to talk to the pilot and approached the cockpit, prompting the crew to react quickly.
``There was a huge panic,'' said Hopman, who was seated about halfway back in the plane. ``Red lights were flashing and an army of people rushed forward to the front of the plane.''
Hopman said he could not see all that was unfolding. But he said the man was quickly overpowered near the cockpit and the crew then closed the curtains on the business class section for the remainder of the flight.
``He was handcuffed by the pilots with the help of passengers, and when we landed Argentine troops arrested him,'' said Hopman, adding the last hours of the flight across South America proceeded normally.
``It was pretty much business as usual after the incident,'' he added. ``We had meals and people got up and walked around. They just said, `Do not go into the (business) cabin.'''
In his statement, Creighton said Moreira ``was processed to the fullest extent of United's security procedures prior to boarding the aircraft.''
``It is regrettable that our pilots, flight attendants and any passengers had to take these actions, but the cockpit door reinforcement and the quick action of the flight crew allowed the flight to land safely in Buenos Aires,'' he said.
United said flights to and from Argentina would continue as scheduled.
Thursday's incident highlighted anew the rising safety concerns surrounding air travel safety.
In a recent incident, police removed a disruptive woman from an America West Airlines flight on Jan. 28 that was just about to leave Phoenix for San Diego, officials said.
On Jan. 30, the San Francisco International Airport was evacuated after security guards detected explosives residue on the shoes of a man who then disappeared into a crowd. Thousands of passengers waited outside while 28 gates were closed for about two hours and terminal the United Airlines terminal was searched. The man was not found.
Pablo Moreira, a banker from Uruguay, was restrained by the flight crew and later arrested by police after the flight landed as scheduled in Buenos Aires at 10:30 a.m. local time, said Judy Orihuela, an FBI (news - web sites) spokeswoman in Miami.
``No information at this time indicates it's a terrorist incident. But, of course, the FBI is investigating,'' said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for President Bush (news - web sites)'s Homeland Security Council.
United Airlines Flight 855 took off from Miami at midnight with 142 passengers and 15 crew members aboard. Moreira, 28, began kicking the cockpit door about five hours into the flight, as the jetliner flew over Brazil, Orihuela said.
The FBI spokeswoman said Moreira forced the door open, but United said he did not get inside the cockpit of the Boeing 777.
``The passenger never gained full entry due to the reinforced cockpit door bar United has installed on all of its fleet,'' Chairman and CEO Jack Creighton said in a statement.
Orihuela said the co-pilot grabbed a small ax and hit Moreira in the head, subduing him.
Moreira did not appear drunk and was not armed, she said, adding that she was unaware of any threats or what prompted him to try to enter the cockpit.
Moreira was restrained for the remainder of the flight but was provided medical attention, the airline said. He was lucid and in stable condition, Orihuela said, adding that a flight attendant also received minor injuries in the struggle, Orihuela said.
Moreira was turned over to local authorities in Argentina. He will be charged with interfering with a flight crew and flown back to Miami sometime Thursday, Orihuela said.
Brian Hopman, an Associated Press sales associate who was a passenger on the flight, said the man seemed as if he wanted to talk to the pilot and approached the cockpit, prompting the crew to react quickly.
``There was a huge panic,'' said Hopman, who was seated about halfway back in the plane. ``Red lights were flashing and an army of people rushed forward to the front of the plane.''
Hopman said he could not see all that was unfolding. But he said the man was quickly overpowered near the cockpit and the crew then closed the curtains on the business class section for the remainder of the flight.
``He was handcuffed by the pilots with the help of passengers, and when we landed Argentine troops arrested him,'' said Hopman, adding the last hours of the flight across South America proceeded normally.
``It was pretty much business as usual after the incident,'' he added. ``We had meals and people got up and walked around. They just said, `Do not go into the (business) cabin.'''
In his statement, Creighton said Moreira ``was processed to the fullest extent of United's security procedures prior to boarding the aircraft.''
``It is regrettable that our pilots, flight attendants and any passengers had to take these actions, but the cockpit door reinforcement and the quick action of the flight crew allowed the flight to land safely in Buenos Aires,'' he said.
United said flights to and from Argentina would continue as scheduled.
Thursday's incident highlighted anew the rising safety concerns surrounding air travel safety.
In a recent incident, police removed a disruptive woman from an America West Airlines flight on Jan. 28 that was just about to leave Phoenix for San Diego, officials said.
On Jan. 30, the San Francisco International Airport was evacuated after security guards detected explosives residue on the shoes of a man who then disappeared into a crowd. Thousands of passengers waited outside while 28 gates were closed for about two hours and terminal the United Airlines terminal was searched. The man was not found.