Video shows American Airlines pilot tackling aggressive passenger

Source: News Corp Australia Network:

August 2, 2016 at 11:13

A PILOT has been forced to tackle a passenger who allegedly shoved a flight attendant to the ground and threatened to break the captain’s jaw.

Shocking video shows the American Airlines pilot leaping at 23-year-old Michael Kerr before pinning him to the ground during the July 21 confrontation.

“You don’t put your hands on my flight attendant,” the pilot yelled, after Kerr allegedly pushed the female attendant.

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The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Kerr began attacking crew when the flight to Charlotte, North Carolina had landed.

He refused to return to his seat as the plane taxied to the gate, instead pushing the flight attendant and threatening the pilot near the cockpit.

Passenger Michael Colon, who filmed the altercation, said the captain “jumped” Kerr.

“I was scared. I was very scared. I felt like the flight attendant’s life was in danger, and I felt like someone else needed to step in, the way he treated her,” Colon, a flight attendant for Norwegian Airlines, said.

“We landed and were taxiing, and waiting for the jet bridge to arrive at the exit door and the man started screaming, ‘let’s go, go’.”

The pilot leapt at the aggressive passenger and tackled him to the ground. Picture: Footage courtesy of Brian ColonSource:Supplied

While he was held down, Kerr allegedly told the pilot: “Whatever you do is going on Facebook, and you’re a ... complete ... loser. You heard me right the first time.”

It took about 20 minutes for police to arrive and arrest Kerr, who allegedly drank three glasses of Jack Daniel’s whiskey during the flight.
According to an FBI affidavit, Kerr threatened, shoved, kicked and spat at flight attendants.

He faces charges of being intoxicated and disruptive, assault on a female, communicating threats and interfering with a flight crew or attendant, the Charlotte Observer reports.

The pilot held the passenger for up to 20 minutes before police arrived. Picture: Footage courtesy of Brian ColonSource:Supplied

In addition to being fired from his job as a cook at Portofino, he is banned from flying on commercial airlines.

The flight attendant’s friend Tanise Love said the woman was grateful for the support she has received since the shocking incident.

“I don’t think she’s so much focused on the assailant or his wrongdoing, she’s just focused on getting better,” Ms Love told the Charlotte Observer.