A 19-year-old
young man tried to storm the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight three
different times. He was traveling from San Diego to Washington, D.C. and just so happened to choose a flight that was also carrying eight off-duty police
officers as passengers.
Needless
to say, he was overmatched.
The
police officers were flying to take part in training. The young man potentially
faces 20 years of jail time for interfering with a flight.
“SDPD had eight off-duty officers on board the flight, heading to
training on the East Coast, that assisted in this situation," according to
SDPD Lt. Dan Meyer.
Nathan Jones was aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 322 from San Diego
to Dulles International Airport on March 3 when he "made three separate
attempts to go to the front of the plane and open the aircraft's cockpit
door," according to an affidavit by Federal Air Marshal Thomas Pattinson. The
police officers easily restrained him and put him in flex handcuffs and sat on
either side of him for the remainder of the flight.
Jones was arrested after arriving at Dulles.
When asked what he was trying to accomplish, Jones allegedly said
that he was only testing the flight attendant.
Pardon the pun, but with a little assistance they passed with
flying colors. Jones was never able to breach the cockpit on any of his
attempts. His attorney, Robert Jenkins, said he wants his client
psychologically evaluated.
"We are very concerned about his mental health," Jenkins
said. "I intend to request that the court evaluate him for competency
to stand trial."
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