It has become typical news to report about passengers raising a commotion while flying. These stories typically focus on aggressive guests who have attacked cabin personnel. Yet, occasionally those responsible for these situations end up endangering all of the fliers. In one such incident, a female Southwest Airlines passenger was detained and taken into custody after trying to unlock the plane’s side door. The event happened at a height of 37,000 feet, according to the New York Post’s story.
Elom Agbegninou, 34
According to the reports, Elom Agbegninou, 34, pushed a flight attendant aside to open the side door of the aircraft. The 34-year-old reportedly moved to the back of the aircraft and “started” at the departure door, according to documents made public by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Court records depict the following scene: A flight attendant then instructed the woman to use the lavatory or sit down. Another flight attendant claimed that after the female passenger asked two flight attendants if she could look out the window and they deny her, the customer shoved her way past the flight attendant and started pulling on the side door handle at 37,000 feet, according to the documents. She tried to open the plane’s emergency escape, but her fellow passengers intercepted her and prevented her from doing so.
Emergency Landing of Plane
The incident take place on Southwest Airlines flight 192, which was traveling from Houston, Texas, to Columbus, Ohio, specifically. According to the New York Post, the plane had to make an emergency landing at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Arkansas as a result of the aforementioned incident. They give the woman to federal agents after the landing.
The accused woman reiterated, according to documents made public by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, “Jesus commanded her to fly from Ohio, and He told her to open the side door of the plane.” She continued to do this and hit her head against the plane. The flight attendant begged her to come back to her as she was making her way back and forth along the aisle toward the emergency exit, but she refused.
Biting a Passenger on the Thigh
Agbegninou bit the passenger who tried to hold him back on his thigh. According to the documentation, the victim tried to get the woman to release the bite by working their fingers up to her jawline until she finally did. The bit victim was treated at a nearby hospital with antibiotics and hepatitis injections. According to documents, the victim has experienced anxiety and PTSD since the assault. Although the victim was not named in court documents, it was stated that they had to call a veterans’ crisis hotline after the incident.
Breathing and Anxiety Problems
The accused informed the authorities that she intended to travel to Maryland and stay with a pastor’s family acquaintance. She reportedly left her house on Saturday without informing her husband, without any luggage, and by herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she had flown and had not taken a flight in “a long time.” According to the records, she allegedly complained about having trouble breathing on the plane and got up from her seat. She recalled biting the person while trying to open the door. In addition, she claimed that she suffers from anxiety and that she “got really agitated and ordinarily would not have done those things.”
According to the criminal complaint, the woman has allegations of interfering with flight attendants and crew members as well as assault within marine and territorial jurisdiction. They later know through the questioning about the woman’s journey from Maryland to meet the preacher. She was traveling without any luggage. According to court documents, Agbegninou’s lawyer expressed concern throughout the hearing about the defendant’s capacity to stand trial. According to the Democrat-Gazette, she was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service while the conduction of evaluation.
Wrapping Up
The prosecution in the case, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Bryant, informed the judge that the government had no issues with Agbegninou’s release under restrictions. Agbegninou was released to her husband’s custody as a third-party custodian by Volpe, who stipulated that she abstain from alcohol usage, refrain from owning any firearms, surrender her passport, report any contact with law police, and maintain regular communication with her lawyer.
Simply adhere to his recommendations, Volpe said. He is a very capable solicitor, and we will get along just fine. Volpe also instructed Agbegninou not to fly on a commercial aircraft or plane till the final decision of her case.