Police said that a man on a Frontier Airlines flight to Houston was restrained Wednesday by other passengers after he started kicking seats, hitting a window, and eventually breaking the Plexiglas.
According to Victoria Clark, flight F9 4856 had just left Denver. It was about 20-30 minutes into the flight when the woman behind her asked the man to change seats. Clark reported that the man became angry and began kicking her seat, as well as trying to break through the window.
Clark said, “I began having a panic attack” “[I thought] that it could be a terrorist act.”
Passengers reported that the man continued to smash the window until he was able to finally break the Plexiglas. Passengers recalled that flight attendants, without an air marshal aboard, asked if any law enforcement could help. Tanner Phillips, an ex-military member, claimed to have stepped in.
Phillips stated that the man was “just going crazy”. “He was screaming and punching the window, laying down and trying to kick it out. I wanted to do as much as possible.”
Phillips and others restrained the man using bootlaces and zip ties. They then put him back into his seat. The flight did not make an emergency landing but continued to its destination in Houston, forcing the good Samaritans group to keep the man from escaping for two hours.
Phillips stated that the blood of the man was all over the windows and ceilings in the plane, as the Plexiglas had cut his hands.
Phillips stated, “You just never know what people are capable of.” “I am so grateful that no one was hurt and we were able to handle the situation.”
Clark stated that everyone breathed a huge sigh when the plane safely landed in Houston, around 10:20 pm local time.
Clark said, “People were applauding.” “Everyone thanked all the gentlemen who helped us get there safely.”
Houston Police Department received a report of a “combative” passenger aboard the aircraft and was already at the scene when the plane landed.
Frontier Airlines declined to press charges at the scene, and police are reaching out to airport officials to see what happened to the man. Since the man is not currently facing charges, his name was not released, according to police.
Jessica Brown, Chloe Starks, and other passengers hope that this incident will show the need for greater security on aircraft so that this kind of thing does not occur again.
“It is just insane.” Brown said, “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.” “I wish that in 2025, we wouldn’t have to deal with situations like these.”
