Miami-Bound American Airlines Flight Grounded in Honduras After Man Enters Cockpit, Damages Controls
03:57 GMT 12.01.2022 (Updated: 13:27 GMT 06.08.2022)
© AP Photo / Wilfredo LeePainted vertical stabilizers are viewed as American Airlines jets are parked on the airport apron, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, at Miami International Airport in Miami. American Airlines and a subsidiary will pay $9.8 million in stock to settle claims that they failed to help disabled employees return to work.
© AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee
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An American Airlines flight bound for Miami, Florida, out of Honduras' Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport was grounded Tuesday night after a passenger reportedly rushed into the aircraft cockpit prior to takeoff and damaged some of the plane's controls.
American Airlines issued a same-day confirmation that an incident occurred on the carrier's Flight 488, from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to Miami, Florida, involving a single individual who is now in custody.
"A customer entered the open flight deck and caused damage to the aircraft. Crew members intervened and the individual was ultimately apprehended by local law enforcement," the Texas-based airliner said in a statement to The Hill.
A replacement aircraft was issued by the company, which rescheduled the flight for 9:30 p.m. local time.
"We applaud our outstanding crew members for their professionalism in handling a difficult situation," the American Airlines statement noted.
Although details about the incident were not shared, ABC News transportation reporter Sam Sweeney tweeted that a pilot had attempted to block the male suspect from jumping out of an open cockpit window while the plane was on the ground.
— Ariel Sierra (@ArielSierra) January 12, 2022
Footage uploaded to social media showed what appeared to be a man dangling out the cockpit window of an American Airlines jet.
— Ariel Sierra (@ArielSierra) January 12, 2022
An alleged photo of the damage caused by the suspect was also included.