Rageh Ahmed Mohammed Al-Murisi was arrested after attempting to storm the cockpit of an American Airlines Chicago to San Francisco Flight. The plane was carrying 156 passengers and six crew members.
When he was observed attempting to enter the cockpit, witnesses initially believed he may have mistaken it for the bathroom, until he shouted “Allahu Akbar” thirty times, and, according to the court affidavit, (quoting Air Marshal Paul Howard), Al-Murisi made eye contact with a crew member, lowered his shoulder and rammed the door.
A retired Secret Service agent and a former police officer were among those who subdued Al-Murisi.
28 year old Al-Murisi, who is from Yemen but is now a California resident, boarded without luggage but with several forms of id. He was denied bail and is scheduled for court on May 13. The charge is one count of interfering with flight crew members.
American Airlines flight AA-3470 made an emergency landing at O’Hare International Airport, Illinois, on April 11th.