Rashaun Williams detaining off-duty flight attendant/Photo Courtesy of WXIA
While taking a trip from Los Angeles to Atlanta on a Delta Airlines flight, Rashaun Williams was thrust into an unnerving situation. Sitting next to an off-duty flight attendant during the plane trip, Williams noticed increasingly erratic behavior from the passenger, who asked the Morehouse College professor a series of odd questions before attempting to gain control of the plane’s PA system, WXIA reported. Williams, along with others, then intervened to detain the unruly passenger, quelling the situation until the Delta flight could safely land.
According to WXIA, the strange occurrence happened last Saturday night, June 12, when the unnamed off-duty flight attendant began asking Williams personal questions about his name and where he lived.
“He was exhibiting some weird behavior and asked me a bunch of personal questions: What’s your name? What do you do? Where do you live in Atlanta? Can I get your phone number? Do you have a business card?” the Black Morehouse professor told WXIA.
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The Delta flight’s captain then called for assistance after the passenger walked to the back of the plane, returned to the front and tried to use the plane’s PA system, requesting, “We’d like all strong males to the front of the aircraft to handle a problem passenger,”
Williams then took it upon himself to help detain the off-duty flight attendant but was then confronted by them. He told WXIA about the event, “As soon as I stood up, he’s coming right towards me, facing me. I immediately jump, grabbed his shoulders, pulled his hood over his head, pull him to the ground. Now, I’m holding him on the ground, and he’s kicking, someone’s grabbing his feet,”
The incident was captured by a bystander’s cell phone.
After the passenger was subdued, the crew made an emergency landing in Oklahoma City, leading to their arrest. Williams claimed that a note was written by the passenger that allegedly accused him of making “terroristic threats,” according to WXIA.
Williams also spoke with WXIA about the importance of mental health awareness and how a little compassion can go a long way when dealing with someone possibly experiencing a breakdown,
saying, “I just think he was having a mental health breakdown. It’s up to us at citizens to invest in our own mental health, to be compassionate with people, and to learn how to diffuse situations with people without it becoming dangerous,”Well said. Luckily, no one reported any injuries during the on-flight altercation.