Passenger Cuts Trip Short, Jumps From Moving Plane

Passenger's sudden exit landed him in the hospital
By Liz MacGahan,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 26, 2021 11:14 AM CDT
Man Jumps Out of Plane While It's Taxiing to the Runway
File photo of Los Angeles International Airport.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

A man had second thoughts pretty quickly after boarding a flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. As the plane was taxiing from the gate to the runway Friday evening, he got out of his seat, tried to open the cockpit door, and then decided to leave the only way possible—via the emergency slide. He landed on the taxiway at LAX. And not gently, either—he was taken to a local hospital, KCAL reports.

The FAA said there was an altercation on the United Express flight, CNN reports. The passenger pounded on the cockpit door, an FBI spokesperson said. Then he opened an emergency exit, triggering the slide, and fell to the pavement. The police and fire department rushed to the scene, then rushed the passenger away, and the plane was able to taxi back to the gate, KTLA reports. The flight, originally scheduled for 7:10pm finally left for Utah at 10:36pm, with everyone on board uninjured and ready with a great excuse for being late. (More weird news stories.)

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