Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft of Alaska Airlines. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska Airlines passenger has been federally charged, accused of trying to repeatedly open the cabin door in the middle of the flight, causing other passengers to restrain him.
Dig deeper:
According to a criminal complaint obtained by FOX Television Stations, on December 10, Kassian William Fredericks was on Alaska Airlines flight 87 from Deadhorse to Anchorage.
A passenger told authorities that Fredericks was seen repeatedly trying to open the door of the airplane. Other passengers then jumped up to restrain him.
According to a witness identified as M.P., Fredericks began repeatedly saying, "Stop the plane, stop the plane," while anxiously looking toward the rear of the aircraft. Concerned, M.P. asked whether Fredericks was okay. Fredericks responded by claiming that the plane was being flown from the back.
When M.P. asked who was responsible, Fredericks replied that the individuals were "invisible" and attempting to take control of the aircraft. He urged that they needed to be stopped.
Shortly thereafter, M.P. observed Fredericks place a pill into his mouth and wash it down with a drink of Gatorade. Initially, M.P. believed the medication might calm him. Instead, Fredericks’s behavior appeared to worsen.
Following the incident, Fredericks told M.P. that he was overdosing. M.P., however, believed that Fredericks was experiencing the effects of drugs and described him as "tripping."
As the flight continued, crew members kept a close watch on Fredericks as his behavior became increasingly agitated. They asked nearby passengers to remain alert and report any changes while the crew proceeded with routine beverage service.
At one point during the flight, Fredericks made a disturbing statement, saying, "The wings have disappeared. We’re all going to die." Flight attendant S.G. immediately contacted the pilot to report the situation.
The plane landed at Anchorage.
While receiving medical care at Providence Hospital, Fredericks made several statements to hospital staff that raised further concerns about his condition.
An Anchorage Police Department officer overheard Fredericks telling a doctor that he had been consuming alcohol continuously for the past nine to ten days.
He also reported experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations and said he could not remember the previous two years of his life.
What's next:
Fredericks was charged with interfering with the performance of the duties of the member or attendant or lessening the ability of the member or attendant to perform those duties by intimidating flight crew members or flight attendants of the aircraft.
He faces a fine and/or twenty years in prison if convicted.
What they're saying:
FOX Television Stations has reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a federal criminal complaint obtained by FOX Television Stations, which details witness statements, flight crew observations, and law enforcement accounts of the incident aboard the Alaska Airlines flight. This story was reported from Los Angeles.