An unruly passenger aboard a United Airlines flight to Florida assaulted a flight attendant and then managed to partially open the main cabin door before other passengers, including an off-duty US Marshal, subdued him in a terrifying incident that could see the suspect sent to prison for 20 years.
The pilots of the Embraer E45 regional jet operated by CommutAir on behalf of United Express immediately declared an emergency after receiving an automatic warning that the cabin had been breached and managed to land the plane without incident.
In a recently unsealed plea agreement, Kameron C. Stone, 29, of Fairfax, Virginia has pleaded guilty to two counts of interfering with flight crew and assault following the April 16, 2021 incident.
Stone also faces a maximum $250,000 fine for interfering with flight crew and a maximum sentence of one year in prison for assault. Prosecutors have declined to recommend a lesser sentence as part of the plea agreement.
Witnesses say Stone became “loud and obnoxious” during the two and half hour flight from Dulles to Pensacola and that he smelled strongly of alcohol. Stone verbally harassed and made ‘finger guns’ at other passengers which led to a flight attendant being forced to frequently reprimand him.
At one point, Stone got up from his seat and reached for the cockpit door, saying: “I’m trying to get out of here”. The flight attendant blocked the door and ordered Stone to take his seat.
During the final descent into Pensacola, Stone once again stood up and approached the cockpit. The flight attendant tried to block him but he ran into her and pushed and grabbed her and hit her head against the side of the galley.
He then managed to partially open the main cabin door activating an alarm in the cockpit and triggering an emergency landing. The flight attendant desperately held onto Stone’s hand to prevent him from fully opening the door and screamed “close the door!” as she tugged on the handle to close the door.
Three passengers leapt from their seats and jumped on Stone and then restrained him until law enforcement boarded the aircraft.
Stone admitted to drinking alcohol on the plane, as well as having had several drinks before even boarding the flight.
Alcohol has been cited as one of the main factors behind a surge in unruly passenger incidents over the last 18 months. Despite the objections of flight attendant unions, most airlines have now resumed fully alcohol service.
The Southwest Airlines flight attendant union said they are “outraged” by the airline’s “egregious” decision to resume alcohol service from February 16.
