An unruly New York man who tried to open an airplane door in flight Saturday has been released for medical evaluation, the FBI said today.
His name was not released.
The man was questioned by Denver police and the FBI, which so far has determined the incident was not a “terrorism matter,” said Kathy Wright, a spokeswoman for Denver’s FBI office.
“At this point, there are no indications that this is anything other than an unruly passenger,” Wright said in a statement.
The man tried to open the front exterior door and the cockpit door before passengers restrained him, Wright said. He reportedly had consumed alcohol, authorities said Saturday night.
United Flight 223 was carrying about 129 passengers and five crew members from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas, before diverting to Denver International Airport about 5:10 p.m. Saturday. The flight eventually continued on to its destination.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Denver will review the case to determine charges, Wright said.
