Man ‘barges cockpit’ over wrong plane meal

A plane carrying 300 passengers was forced to turn back around four hours into its journey after an “unfortunate incident” unfolded.

A passenger allegedly tried to storm the cockpit of a plane after he became frustrated over a meal, and being refused to sit in an exit row with a baby.

American Airlines Flight 198 was about four hours into its journey from John F. Kennedy’s International Airport to Milan on Monday when the pilot announced the aircraft will be returning to New York.

“I’m sorry that this happened,” the pilot announced on the PA, adding it was “out of their control”.

“Just a very unfortunate incident I hope no one has to go through again.”

An American Airlines flight was forced to turn back around after a passenger attempted to ‘barge’ into the cockpit. Picture: CBS News

An America Airlines spokesperson told news.com.au the plane returned to JFK “due to a disruptive passenger”.

“The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we expect our customers to comply with federal regulations to follow crew member instructions,” the spokesperson said.

“We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans and we thank them for their understanding.”

According to passengers, the man became irate after not receiving his preferred meal. He also wanted to sit in an exit row with a baby, but was refused. The situation escalated further when he allegedly “charged” at the flight attendants before trying to enter the cockpit.

“We noticed a scuffle in the back. There was apparently someone in the back and he was charging at the stewardesses and apparently at some point he charged past all of our seats and tried to get into the pilot’s cabin,” passenger Krystie Tomlinson told CBS News.

The plane was heading to Milan from New York before it turned back four hours into its journey. Picture: FlightAware

The passenger allegedly tried to storm the cockpit after he became frustrated over a meal, and being refused to sit in an exit row with a baby. Picture: CBS News

Michael Scigliano said passengers were originally told the aircraft was experiencing technical problems before realising the real issue when the commotion unfolded.

“The guy was still in the back of the plane unprotected, unrestrained, which was a little bit scary considering we had a plane full of 300 people, and there was no air marshal on board, and we’ve got this crazy man in the back,” Mr Scigliano told CBS News.

Krystie Tomlinson was on the flight with her baby – she said the man allegedly ‘charged’ at the flight attendants. Picture: CBS News

Michael Scigliano, among other passengers, complained about the airlines handling of the situation, adding the airline ‘offered them nothing’. Picture: CBS News

Clifford Law, from the Aviation Trial Firm in the US, told CBS News, a lot of the time these incidents are mental health related.

“We don’t low all the things the pilot knows and maybe the pilot felt that given the circumstances of disruption and the safety of other passengers it was just best to go back.”

The man was escorted off the aircraft by authorities after it landed back in New York. Picture: CBS News

The packed plane returned to New York at 3am where they were made to wait in the aircraft on the tarmac until authorities escorted the man off.

Passengers complained they were offered no perks by the airline following the scary incident.

“Back to New York at 3.30am in the morning. They offered us nothing,” Mr Scigliano said.

Ms Tomlinson asked to use the airline’s lounge to breastfeed and change her baby, but was allegedly told she could go in for a fee of $US79 – $113.

Passengers remained at the airport overnight before being rebooked on an 11am flight the following morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration – a US federal government agency within the US Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation – investigated the incident and has released the man without charges.