ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A man was in federal custody Thursday after he tried to break into an airplane cockpit during a flight from South Africa to Atlanta, the FBI said.
Federal agents took James Drake, 53, into custody Thursday morning after South African Airlines Flight 7799 landed at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport.
The plane's crew told authorities Drake tried to rush the cockpit door at about 6 a.m. EDT, some two and a half hours before the plane was scheduled to land in Atlanta. He was subdued by two passengers, a deputy sheriff and a psychiatrist, the FBI said.
The FBI said the incident was not an attempted terrorist act. Drake is a U.S. citizen, but his hometown was not immediately known, said FBI spokesman Joe Parris.
Drake faces federal charges that could include interference with a flight crew member.
Drake was arrested in 1987 after a similar incident on a domestic airline flight, the FBI said. He did not stand trial in that case, Parris said.
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (9 years 9 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1446 times:
Not the smartest thing to do. I do believe that the passengers are well versed to not even be near the cockpit door area.
Jcs17 From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 8065 posts, RR: 43 Reply 2, posted (9 years 9 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1400 times:
I especially like how the report cant even get the flight number correct, its SA304 or 305 I believe, Delta codeshare flight 7799. I mean, is it that hard to jump on to South African's website to confirm a flight number?
This idiot sounds like a poster-boy for a database where troublesome airline passengers can be banned from flying.
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1807 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (9 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1329 times:
Jcs17---
You thought the exact same thing I did. I saw SAA #7799 and shook my head in quiet outrage. What a bunch of nerds we are! However, I think that DL 7799 is actually SAA 209, not 305. Maybe someone could verify this?
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 6, posted (9 years 9 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1267 times:
A man was in federal custody Thursday after he tried to break into an airplane cockpit during a flight from South Africa to Atlanta, the FBI said.
Is it me, or is this happening a lot more since 9/11?
Or is it just there's better media coverage of it?
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2120 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (9 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1228 times:
"The FBI said the incident was not an attempted terrorist act. Drake is a U.S. citizen, but his hometown was not immediately known, said FBI spokesman Joe Parris."
So if he wasn't a US citizen, it would have been considered a terrorist act?
N951U From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (9 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1225 times:
Or is it just there's better media coverage of it?
This is the more likely option.
It's like shark attacks... they've been happening for centuries but only recently has the media started to care (in the name of a sensational story, of course) so it give the impression it's a recent occurance.
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