A 22-year-old North Carolina man has been charged after he tried to bite a flight attendant, then opened the door of a plane and jumped onto the runway below.
According to a complaint filed in federal court, American Airlines Flight 5242 bound for New Bern was waiting just off a taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport when the seat belt signs were on and Tun Loong Sein stood up from his seat and attempted to open the plane’s main door.
According to the lawsuit, a flight attendant stood up and quickly told Thayne to return to his seat, and two other passengers rose to help him.
According to the complaint, Thane then allegedly tried to bite a flight attendant as he made his way to a nearby galley service door.
According to the complaint, Thane then allegedly tried to bite a flight attendant as he made his way to a nearby galley service door. Source: ABC
He managed to open the door and jump onto the runway below, according to the lawsuit.
Two workers working on the runway prevented Mr Thane from running onto a nearby busy taxiway.
He was then taken to the terminal and taken to a medical facility.
Thayne is charged with federal misdemeanor assaulting an aircrew member and a flight attendant and is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.
As of Friday morning, it was unclear whether Thayne was represented by an attorney.