Incident: TAM A320 near Porto Alegre on Feb 11th 2012, unruly passenger
By Simon Hradecky, created Sunday, Feb 12th 2012 14:54Z, last updated Sunday, Feb 12th 2012 14:54Z
A TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200, registration
PR-MAR performing flight JJ-8047 from Montevideo (Uruguay) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil), was enroute near Porto Alegre,RS (Brazil) when a male passenger attempted to intrude the cockpit which resulted in a physical fight with two flight attendants supported by other passengers. Cabin crew and supporting passengers were bitten by the intruder during the fight until the combined forces were able to subdue the unruly passenger, who was handcuffed and tied to his seat. In the meantime the flight crew diverted to Porto Alegre for a safe landing where police arrested the unruly passenger and delivered him to the psychiatric ward of a local hospital.
Police reported the unruly passenger suffered a "psychotic episode".
The airline reported a riot on board prompted the crew to divert to Porto Alegre.
Passengers reported two flight attendants were trying to get the man down when he tried to intrude the cockpit in order to bring the airplane down. The unruly was fighting, biting, it needed about half a dozen people to finally overpower him and constrain him.
The aircraft reached Sao Paulo with a delay of 2:45 hours.