An American Airlines passenger forced the flight to make an emergency landing after she charged the cockpit after she couldn't get a drink: reports
- An "unruly" passenger aboard an American Airlines flight forced an emergency landing this week.
- The traveler allegedly rushed at the cockpit after she couldn't get a cocktail, according to reports.
An "unruly" passenger on an American Airlines flight forced the plane to make an emergency landing in North Carolina this week after the traveler allegedly charged at the cockpit after she couldn't get a cocktail, according to officials and reports.
Flight 3444 flying from Jacksonville, Florida, to Washington, DC, was diverted to North Carolina's Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Wednesday afternoon as a result of the "passenger disturbance," the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to Insider on Friday.
The FAA said in a tweet on Wednesday that it was investigating an "unruly passenger" aboard the flight operated by Envoy Air, a regional carrier under American Airlines.
In radio transmissions from Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Police, officers can be heard saying that a passenger on the flight "tried to breach the cockpit" and was "being somewhat restrained by the flight crew and other passengers," CNN reported.
The FAA told Insider that the passenger "did not breach" the cockpit, but "did run at it."
Tiffany Miles, 36, told local news site WRAL in an interview that the incident was a total misunderstanding and that she wants an apology.
"What person in their right mind would go up to the cockpit while the pilot was flying the plane? It doesn't make sense," Miles told the news outlet as she explained that she got up and walked towards the bathroom in the direction of the cockpit.
Miles said that she asked a flight attendant for a cocktail — Jack Daniels on the rocks — before the flight took off and during, but was told no alcohol was being served on the flight, according to WRAL.
"I have anxiety," Miles said. "So, sometimes I need a cocktail to cool off and calm down."
Miles said that when she was out of her seat two flight attendants stopped her near the cockpit.
"I started freaking out because so many people started getting up on me," Miles told the news outlet. "I started freaking completely out, saying, 'This is not called for.'"
The flight crew wound up restraining Miles with zip ties aboard the flight until it landed safely back at the North Carolina airport, according to WRAL.
"The flight attendant told me I had to get up out of my chair or she was going to force me to the ground and put zip ties on me," Miles said. "I said, 'For what?!'"
"That made me go berserk," she said.
Cell phone video published by WRAL shows Miles being restrained as she says into the camera, "The question that I had asked was if I can get my drink. I have not threatened anyone."
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was even briefed on the ordeal.
"FAA leadership has briefed me on today's flight diversion due to a Level 4 disruption on board," Buttigieg tweeted. "Thankful to all who helped ensure its safe arrival. As always, safety is our main concern and our top priority."
Miles was taken into custody by police after the plane landed at the North Carolina airport and she was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of illegal airport obstruction, records show. She was jailed and later released on bond.
However, law enforcement ultimately dismissed the charge against Miles following an investigation, the airport told Insider on Friday.
Law enforcement at Raleigh-Durham International Airport "was notified by the TSA of an attempted hijacking on board a flight that was being diverted to RDU on its way to Washington, DC," the airport told Insider in a statement.
"Due to the elevated nature of the call and information received at the time, law enforcement placed passenger Tiffany Miles in custody and initially charged her with a misdemeanor," the airport said.
The FBI told Insider "no further action is planned unless additional information or evidence comes to light."