'I just knew he was up to something crazy': Hero marine tackles passenger trying to open plane door mid-flight
Sgt Maj Jody Armentrout, 50, said his instincts kicked in when a man began behaving oddly on Saturday morning's All Nippon Airways flight from Japan to Texas.
The long-serving Marine, who has spent more than two decades in the US Marine Corps, said he first noticed the passenger wandering aimlessly between bathrooms. 'He came out of that one and began pacing up and down the aisle, so that just threw my radar on,' Armentrout told NBC News. 'His eyes — you could definitely tell there was something going on.'
When the passenger began tampering with an emergency exit, Armentrout jumped into action.
'He grabbed a strap around the door, pulled it off, and about that time is when I took him and slammed him, put him on the ground,' he said.
Another older passenger helped restrain the man, while Armentrout zip-tied him to a seat. The Houston-bound flight was then diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the man, reportedly undergoing a medical crisis, was taken to hospital. He has not been charged, the New York Post reported.
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Japan based Armentrout, stayed seated beside the passenger for the remainder of the journey and said he acted out of concern for others onboard. 'I just knew he was up to something crazy, and at the end of the day, I was willing to take the risk of him saying 'I'm not doing anything' and then just them making him go sit back down than me allowing him to do anything that's going to put anybody at risk.'
Several passengers thanked the Marine for his quick thinking and bravery, especially as there were babies and families on the flight.
However, the drama didn't end there. Upon landing in Seattle, another passenger, reportedly angry about the diversion, punched a bathroom door. The FBI confirmed that this person, too, was removed by Port of Seattle Police but had not been charged as of Wednesday.
Reflecting on the incident, Armentrout simply said, 'It was a weird flight.'
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