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.