Business

A Southwest Airlines passenger opened a galley door and jumped out of a plane while it was taxiing, authorities say

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 jet taxis to the gate
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 jet taxis to the gate.

  • As a flight from Colorado Springs to Phoenix was taxiing, a man opened the rear galley door and jumped out.
  • The Southwest Airlines passenger then ran to an airport fire station and barricaded himself in a dorm room.
  • A 30-year-old suspect has been booked for two felony counts of trespass, police say.

While Southwest Airlines Flight 4236 was taxiing at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday morning, authorities say a passenger opened a rear galley door and jumped out of the plane.

The man “exited” the plane shortly after it arrived from Colorado Springs, Colorado, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson told Insider.

After he jumped, Capt. Todd Keller of the Phoenix Fire Department told AP News, the man ran on the runway to an airport fire station where he barricaded himself in a dorm room.

“They were in constant communication as soon as this person was on the runway, Sky Harbor control tower had eyes on him the entire time and that’s how they notified us,” said Keller, according to FOX 10. “It just shows you how much of a well-oiled machine they are out there.”

A firefighter managed to get the passenger to unlock the door to the dorm room, per AP News. He was then evaluated, treated for a leg injury, and transported to a hospital, the fire department said.

A Phoenix Police Department spokesperson told Insider that the sole suspect identified as 30-year-old Daniel Ramirez.

He has been booked for two felony counts of trespass.

“Local authorities responded to the situation and shortly after the flight continued to its designated gate with all remaining Customers and Crew,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said.

The plane reached the gate after a short delay, KPNX reported. 

Insider reached out to Sky Harbor International Airport. A spokesperson did not provide a comment.

In June, a man was hospitalized after jumping out of a plane at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

A month later, Insider reported that an American Airlines passenger jumped from an emergency exit after a 30-minute delay in disembarking.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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