ALERT: Honolulu-Fighter Jets Scrambled to Accompany Plane (May 22, 2017)

May 22, 2017

Late last week, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu appeared to attempt to breach the cockpit. Fighter jets were scrambled to accompany the flight on its descent to Honolulu. The plane landed safely, and the individual was taken into custody.

According to CNN:

The man, identified as Anil Tuvanc Uskanli — a Turkish national born in 1991– was subdued by crew members and passengers, including an off-duty Los Angeles police officer. He is expected to face federal charges for interference with a flight crew, FBI special agent Paul Delacourt told reporters. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the disturbance.

USA Today reports:

The threat of terrorism prompted authorities to scramble two Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor fighter jets to escort the airliner on the last leg of its trip to Hawaii on Friday. American Airlines Flight 31, with 181 passengers and six crew members aboard, landed safely in Honolulu at 11:35 a.m.

Travel Pulse notes that the suspect has had a pattern of behavioral issues at airports:

It was later learned that the passenger was also detained at Los Angeles international Airport earlier in the day for a separate incident in which he breached a “crew only” door leading to the airfield. Although he was arrested, appeared intoxicated and charged with misdemeanor trespassing, he was also released from custody in time to board the flight to Honolulu.

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