Passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Anchorage received an unwelcome surprise when a passenger stripped naked and ran the length of the cabin.
According to former Alaska Sen. Johnny Ellis, who was on Monday’s flight, the man was yelling and waving before being tackled by two passengers and locked in the bathroom.
WOW. On my flt from SEA 2 ANC, a completely naked man ran from front of plane to back, yelling and waving. 2 big guys maybe one Air Marshall tackeled him and locked in bathroom. Some fear & distress @ passengers NO word from Cpt or Crew. Waiting now @ gate 4 law enforcement !!
— Johnny Ellis (@SenJohnnyEllis) May 15, 2018
Yahoo writer Daniel Roberts was also on the flight and described a similar scene as well as the reaction from fellow passengers.
We just landed, Alaska Air 107 (Seattle to Anchorage), and 20 minutes before landing a guy (looks like early 20s) sprinted up and down the full length of the plane completely naked, yelling. very scary at first. all are okay, many now laughing. guy is restrained in back of plane.
— Daniel Roberts (@readDanwrite) May 15, 2018
The flight landed without incident and the disruptive passenger was detained by law enforcement at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport before being transported to a local hospital, Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan told the New York Daily News.
Ellis and others speculated that the man may have been on drugs or suffering a psychotic breakdown.
I waited 4 wheelchair & was next 2 last off plane. Police boarded to take naked guy away. We thought drugs not booze. May have been psychotic break since some said guy who chased & tackled was actually his father. Flt attendants were debriefing. Cpt extra nice 2 passengers.
— Johnny Ellis (@SenJohnnyEllis) May 15, 2018
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time a passenger has ditched their clothing aboard a flight. In fact, an Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to Anchorage after a naked male passenger barricaded himself in the bathroom just three months ago.
Last summer, a Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Oakland was delayed after a passenger stripped naked.
