A man was detained at Los Angeles International Airport after he allegedly opened an emergency exit door, triggering the emergency slide Saturday morning.
The passenger, who was not identified, opened the door of the Delta flight to Seattle as he was walking away from the gate, according to Los Angeles Airport Police Captain Karla Rodriguez. Airport police contacted the FBI, but it is unclear if the man, who was not identified, faces charges in the incident.
Delta Airlines confirmed Saturday’s incident involving a «rogue passenger» in a statement Sunday. The man was first detained by Delta personnel before police arrived.
Gillian Sheldon, a fellow traveler who witnessed the incident, said Los Angeles that the man was «clearly» agitated by something. A flight attendant approached the man to tell him to go back to his seat, but she turned to grab the flight door, according to Sheldon.
«She said, ‘you can’t open the door’ and she grabbed him and within two seconds she opened the door,» Sheldon said.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The passengers disembarked and were accommodated on a new plane after the incident, Delta said.