Iraq Solider is tackled on Florida Fight as He Goes Wild on Plane

Official: Passengers tackle Iraq vet ramming cockpit door

July 7, 2006

TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- A U.S. Army soldier who had served in Iraq was tackled by airplane passengers after he ran down the aisle and rammed the cockpit door on a flight from New York to Tampa, an official said.

The soldier did not have any weapons and there was no evidence that he meant harm anyone on the flight Thursday night, Tampa International Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said.

She said he was restrained until the flight landed, then taken into custody under a Florida law that allows a person to be held without charges if they are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.

The soldier's brother told officials that he "has some mental problems related to his Army service," Geoghagan said. The brothers were traveling from New York to visit their mother in Tampa.

Army spokesman Sheldon Smith said the man was attached to Fort Riley, Kansas, but his status was unclear.

An incident report said the man was scheduled to get out of the service July 12 and was on leave.

No charges had been filed Friday morning.