Flight from Jamaica diverted after passenger ‘attacks crew’

Flight from Jamaica diverted after passenger ‘attacks crew’

An Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto was diverted to Orlando, Florida, after authorities say a passenger became aggressive, attacked the crew with coffee pots and tried to open the cabin door.

A federal criminal complaint says crew members and other passengers secured Brandon Michael Courneyea using zip ties. Orlando television station WFTV (http://at.wftv.com/2qqFxc7 ) reports the FBI was contacted about 7:30 pm Monday.

Investigators said Courneyea yelled at passengers for “looking at him.” He then grabbed a coffee pot from the galley and swung it at crew members before saying it would “only take one guy to take the plane down.” He lunged for a rear door and began pulling the lever.

Federal agents arrested Courneyea, who faces several charges. It’s not clear whether he has a lawyer.

It was the latest in a string of highly publicised confrontations between airline crews and passengers, starting with a man being dragged off a United Airlines flight in Chicago after he refused to leave his seat to accommodate airline crew members.