ST. LOUIS • An Illinois man accused of trying to force open the door of a plane as it flew from Houston to Chicago now faces federal charges in St. Louis.
Reynel C. Alcaide, 34, of Burbank, was charged by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court here with a crime involving an aircraft and interference with flight crew members and attendants, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Continental Airlines Flight 546 made an emergency landing after the man left his seat, shouted that he had to get off the plane and allegedly tried to force open a door near the front of the plane at 1:15 p.m. After a flight attendant screamed, passengers pounced on the man and subdued him.
The flight landed at Lambert St. Louis International Airport at 1:28 p.m. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said Sunday.
Alcaide was removed and questioned by FBI agents and airport police.
The flight left Lambert about 90 minutes later to complete the trip.
A Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman referred questions Monday to local law enforcement.
Houston resident Tony Harris, one of the passengers who stopped Alcaide, described him in an interview with the Chicago Tribune Sunday this way: "The guy was a bull."
Regardless of the suspect's size, experts say cabin pressure and the design of the doors renders it impossible to open them during flight.
Harris, a 60-year-old U.S. Army veteran, said he choked the man into unconsciousness twice. Harris told the Tribune that when asked why he was trying to get the door open, the man "said he had a rough Mother's Day."
