Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Halley Knigge said he “attempted to access one of the doors in the rear of the aircraft” and was “removed by law enforcement”.
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The Star Tribune reported that the plane departed JFK Airport about 7:15 a.m. ET and landed at the Minneapolis-St.
Fellow passengers on the Seattle-bound flight from NY said the man appeared to be stressed about flying and may have taken too many pills.
She said he was acting erratically as soon as he got on the flight.
The plane was forced to divert to Minnesota, with recordings of pilots messaging the control tower showing they stayed remarkably calm during the incident.
‘Can we have someone greet this customer?’ added the co-pilot.
An Alaska Airlines spokesperson said the trouble-making passenger was unsuccessful in their attempts to open the aircraft door as it’s physically impossible while the plane is pressurized and inflight.
The flight resumed shortly after police escorted the disruptive passenger off the jet.
The plane eventually arrived in Seattle around three hours late.
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Airport spokesmen say the man was questioned and deemed to be a danger to himself, and so was taken to hospital.
