Investigations are underway after a man tried to break into a plane’s cockpit as it departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – and then leapt out of the aircraft.
According to reports in the Guardian, the bizarre incident involved a man pounding on the cockpit door of United Express flight 5365, operated by SkyWest, in an apparent attempt to break into the cockpit. This was as the plane pulled away from a gate early on Friday evening.
The man then opened a service door and zoomed down the emergency slide onto the tarmac, before being seized, arrested and taken to hospital.
SkyWest said later that flight 5365 was destined for Salt Lake City. The airline said the passenger had used the plane’s “service door” (doors where cabin crew enter and exit the aircraft) to depart.
The FAA described the aircraft as a twin-engine Embraer 175.
LAX Airport police and Los Angeles Fire Department personnel raced to the scene. The FBI has launched an investigation.
Written by Peter Needham
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