KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images
A 38-year-old man has reportedly been detained and hospitalized after an incident at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. According to The Independent, the man allegedly climbed onto the wing of a grounded Southwest Airlines plane Sunday night.
According to the outlet, the incident occurred as a Southwest plane awaited takeoff at a terminal. The passenger reportedly opened the emergency exit door and climbed onto the plane’s wing.
Fellow passenger Zed Webster captured video of the moment in a now-viral TikTok.
According to Webster, he began recording when he heard a commotion from passengers “across the aisle from him,” per CNN. It was at that moment that Webster captured the act and what followed.
“Isreal American jumped out the exit door right before the plane took off and alledgely threw something on the plane, i started recording because they were arguing , this was a very tramatic event. Flight 3172 from MSY – ATL,” Webster wrote in the caption of his TikTok.
Webster’s video shows passengers frantically exiting the plane, some also believing that the man who fled the plane did so after leaving an item onboard.
“I was terrified,” Webster told CNN.
As the video continues, it shows the airport ground crew subduing the passenger as he tries to climb into a vehicle parked at the terminal’s gate.
According to a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies determined the passenger was “incoherent.” Additionally, the man was “not fully aware of his surroundings.”
Furthermore, the spokesperson explained that the man did not leave any items onboard the aircraft or had a weapon. The 38-year-old was ultimately detained by police and taken to a hospital for mental health evaluation.
The Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office spokesperson has reportedly disclosed that the man’s case has been referred to federal authorities, per The Independent.
Social media users shared their reactions to the viral incident in The Shade Room’s comment section. Many shared their shock, while others joked that they may be “walking” to their next vacation.
“Folks be begging to get on the no fly list.”
“But why would he do thatttt??”
“Yeah imma go ahead and just walk to my next vacation 😂😩”
One user, @amarahiman, even shared their alleged first-hand experience of the incident.
“So thankful he was arrested and they transitioned us to a new plane”
According to CNN, Chris Perry, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, shared a statement with the company regarding the incident.
“We commend our flight and ground crews for their swift action and apologize to our Customers for their inconvenience.”
The outlet adds that the flight resumed its transport utilizing a different aircraft and landed in Atlanta just before Monday morning.
