Delta flight makes emergency landing after passenger headbutts flight attendant

[left-of-center2012]

A violent passenger had to be removed from a red-eye flight after headbutting a flight attendant, according to Oklahoma City police.

Early Friday, Derek Maas, a passenger on a Delta Airlines flight from Orlando to Salt Lake City, was arrested in Oklahoma City. The plane made an emergency landing at Will Rogers World Airport and Maas, 28, was booked at 9:25 am, according to the Oklahoma County inmate query.

Maas was "extremely drunk" and belligerent, assistant public information officer Sgt. Gary Knight tells USA TODAY. Maas had been drinking before boarding the plane, and asked for more beverages on the flight ... Maas was eventually served and became "unruly and violent," according to a statement from Delta Airlines. Knight says Maas headbutted a male flight attendant and had to be restrained with zip ties on the flight.

Maas was met by law enforcement in Oklahoma City and taken into custody for public drunkenness.

Delta, in their statement to USA TODAY, said it "applauds the quick action and professionalism of the crew of Delta flight 2603 operating from Salt Lake City to Orlando which diverted to Oklahoma City...The flight continued to Orlando, arriving two hours past schedule."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2018/09/21/delta-passenger-headbutts-flight-attendant-oklahoma/1384778002/

[BigmanPigman]

1. Why did they let him board?

If he was obviously drinking before boarding he should not be allowed to board since he could cause danger to others. Can't flight attendants on the ground stop drunk passengers from boarding or is that violating his civil rights?

[HipChick]

3. Coming back from HI..

FA let a very visibly drunk man board the plane...its a long flight back to the mainland...his breath stank..I was not a happy camper

[cos dem]

2. They probably didn't know he was drunk.

It's actually illegal to let him board, or to serve him alcohol, if he appears intoxicated.

Here are the regs related to alcohol on commercial flights:

121.575 Alcoholic beverages.
(a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.

(b) No certificate holder may serve any alcoholic beverage to any person aboard any of its aircraft who -

(1) Appears to be intoxicated;

(2) Is escorting a person or being escorted in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.221; or

(3) Has a deadly or dangerous weapon accessible to him while aboard the aircraft in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.219, 1544.221, or 1544.223.

(c) No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated.

(d) Each certificate holder shall, within five days after the incident, report to the Administrator the refusal of any person to comply with paragraph (a) of this section, or of any disturbance caused by a person who appears to be intoxicated aboard any of its aircraft.

[BigmanPigman]

4. It's good to know they have rules to prevent this

but I wonder how many people are allowed to board due to not wanting the airlines to have to deal with too many angry and drunk passengers. I can see how it would cause problems with delays and cost the airlines money, lawsuits, etc.