LOCAL NEWS

Man cited for unruly behavior on flight from LA to SLC

Sep 6, 2021, 8:56 PM | Updated: Sep 7, 2021, 6:26 am

SALT LAKE CITY – A man was cited for public intoxication after becoming unruly on a flight from the Los Angeles International Airport to the Salt Lake City International Airport.

“More than halfway through the flight, this gentleman started causing a commotion,” said Dennis Busch who was also on the flight.

Witnesses said the man began confronting the people sitting in the row in front of them, telling them things like, “they don’t belong here.”

“I inferred quite a bit into that ‘they don’t belong here,'” Busch said. “It was a couple of Asian descent, and that was very gut-wrenching to see, and it was kind of hard to process in the moment.”

Busch said he then turned his attention to the flight crew, calling them power-hungry and swearing at them.

Busch started recording the man, who can be heard saying, “What? What? Are you going to kick me off this flight?”

The man can also be seen flashing an obscene gesture to the flight crew and yelling, “God Bless America!”

Witnesses said the man began making strange noises while ignoring orders to sit down, but that the flight crew was able to keep passengers calm.

“Which I think made all the difference,” Busch said. “I never would say that I felt physically in danger, but it was just the unknown of what he was capable of that induced a lot of anxiety in all the passengers.”

When the plane landed, the man was escorted from the plane and taken to the hospital.

The spokesperson for the Salt Lake City International Airport said the man was not arrested, adding that American Airlines would have more information.

In a statement, American Airlines said, in part, “The flight landed safely at SLC where local law enforcement removed the disruptive passenger from the aircraft. We thank our crew for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”

The flight had 162 passengers on board, along with six crew members.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

3 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

4 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

5 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

6 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

7 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Man cited for unruly behavior on flight from LA to SLC