A flight was forced to land after a passenger tried to break into the cockpit and screamed 'stop the plane' as he was pinned to the ground. .
The Delta Airlines flight took off from Los Angeles but was diverted to Albuquerque after the drama unfolded on Friday at around 2.20pm local time, KOAT-TV reports.
Shocking footage shows the passenger being restrained by three men as he yells repeatedly 'stop the plane' with increasing urgency.
He can be seen lying face down with his arms being held behind his back near the cockpit as he demands the flight is stopped.
Someone hands over yellow cable wires to one of the men restraining him which is used to hogtie him before he was taken to the back of the plane.
Once the plane landed the man was taken off the flight and arrested.
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The jet continued on to its destination of Nashville, according to the report. No one was injured during the incident.
Passenger Jessica Robertson praised the quick actions of a flight crew member.
She tweeted: "was on this flight in the 3rd row - witness to everything. Terrifying but our @Delta flight attendant Christopher Williams acted quickly.
"So did several passengers around me. Safe but still in Albuquerque. Hope @delta gives Chris every bit of recognition and bonus he deserves."
In a second tweet she uploaded the video with a caption that reads: "This was our view from the 3rd row right after the @Delta attendants and passengers apprehended the person who attempted to get into the cockpit. He was screaming “Stop the plane.”
A second passenger tweeted a photo of a mask-wearing crew member seated with his head in his hands.
He captioned the image: " @Delta this man needs an award.. just saved the plane. LA flight to Nashville.."
Kim Tomsic tweeted back: "My daughter was on this flight and says the crew was amazing—swift, organized, and efficient. She is so grateful for those who took down the “threat” Thank you, Delta Airlines and human beings watching out for one another #DeltaAirlines "
Another Twitter user commented: "This Man, This Crew deserve a HUGE bonus for saving this flight. They will have PTSD from this.
They EARNED a life changing BONUS. THEY possibly saved the lives of all of the @Delta passengers on that flight. Do the right thing Delta."
Delta said in a statement to KOAT-TV : “The passenger was not successful. The plane landed safely and the passenger was removed by police and the FBI. He is in custody now.”
The FBI said it is investigating the incident.
Frank Fisher, spokesman for the FBI in Albuquerque, confirmed that the agency had responded to a report of a plane diverted to the city's airport but said there had been no threat to the public, ABC News reports.
