by Donald Wood
Last updated: 5:30 PM ET, Fri August 7, 2015
A pilot was forced to unleash his inner Jack Torrance Wednesday as he smashed a door down with an axe to remove a drunken passenger who locked himself inside the plane's restroom.
In a report from Alexander Smith of NBCNews.com, Swedish airline Nextjet flight was en route to Örnsköldsvik from Stockholm on Wednesday night when the crew on board was alerted to a man who had locked himself inside a bathroom.
While it was not clear if the passenger had passed out or was simply refusing the orders of attendants, the airline's policy is that all passengers must be seated during the landing process and the captain was not going to let the man break the rules.
The co-pilot slowed the speed of the British Aerospace ATP propeller plane down as the captain found the emergency axe and smashed the door until it could be opened. Once unlocked, the man was taken back to his seat without incident and the plane safely landed at around 8 p.m. local time.
The incident should not come as a shock to officials as police records obtained by NBCNews.com indicate the passenger was drunk before the flight and was almost not allowed to enter the plane. Airport workers at Stockholm Arlanda Airport deemed the passenger as sober enough to fly, though.
The man was detained by police upon arrival in Örnsköldsvik and he was picked up by his wife early the following morning. After the investigation is complete, the man may be facing a fine for his actions.
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