The FBI released an affidavit describing a terrifying experience earlier this week on a Puerto Rico bound JetBlue flight originating in Boston. In the release, a man is said to have stormed the cockpit shouting in both Arabic and Spanish. After seven flight crew restrained him he later broke free from his zip ties only to be restrained again.
On Wednesday, September 22nd a terrifying experience unfolded in the air as a JetBlue flight from Boston experienced what could have been their worst nightmare. With the plane around an hour or so from its final destination, San Juan Puerto Rico, a male passenger attempted to make a phone call. Apparently, this call was unsuccessful and the man attempted to storm the cockpit a few minutes later.
JetBlue Flight 261 departed Boston on Wednesday a little after 5PM heading to Puerto Rico. Khalil El Dahr, a male passenger seated in 6A, tried to use his cell phone from the plane. With approximately 45 minutes remaining in the flight, El Dahr rushed the cockpit shouting in Spanish that he wished to be shot.
The next few minutes are best described in the FBI report, which we’ve provided a snippet of below.
After the initial incident, the flight crew was able to restrain El Dahr and moved him to the back of the plane. However, with 15 minutes or so to spare on the flight, El Dahr somehow managed to free himself and once again rushed the cabin shouting in both Spanish and Arabic that he wished to be shot. Only to be restrained once again by crewmembers.
The plane was met by law enforcement officials upon landing.
The entire series of incidents was extremely violent with multiple crewmembers being punched, choked, and hit by the angry passenger.
