Passenger tries to open the door on British Airways jet flying from Heathrow to Saudi Arabia before being restrained by fellow travellers including 6ft 7in brother of boxer Dillian Whyte
- Man suffering anxiety attack tried to open door of British Airways jet mid-flight
- Plane heading to Riyadh from Heathrow late Monday when incident happened
- Man was subdued by passengers including Dean Whyte, brother of boxer Dillian
- Yeta Odusanya, mother of Anthony Joshua, was also on the flight ahead of her son’s fight against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on Saturday
A man suffering an anxiety attack tried to open the door of a British Airways jet mid-flight and had to be subdued by passengers including boxer Dillian Whyte’s brother.
British Airways flight 263 was around an hour from Riyadh, having departed from Heathrow, on Monday night when the incident happened.
Passengers said a ‘clearly agitated’ man suddenly started pulling on a lever to open a door at the back of the plane, while shouting ‘I want to get out’ in broken English.
A ‘clearly agitated’ man tried to open the back door of a British Airways jet heading from Heathrow to Riyadh on Monday night while it was still in the air (file image)
Dean Whyte (right), 6ft 7ins brother of British boxer Dillian Whyte (left), helped to restrain the man while shouting ‘calm down bruv’
Witness Ian McNally said he rushed to intervene along with 6ft 7ins Dean Whyte, brother of British boxer Dillian, who was repeatedly shouting ‘calm down bruv’.
Yeta Odusanya, mother of fellow boxer Anthony Joshua, was also reported to be on board – heading to Riyadh where her son is due to fight Andy Ruiz Jr on Saturday.
Dillian Whyte is fighting on the under-card.
Mr Whyte told The Guardian: ‘It was like something out of a movie. When I got there he was shouting “I want to get out” in broken English.
‘I managed to grab him and was preparing to slam him hard if necessary but myself and the steward could see he wasn’t quite right in the head so I held him and tried to calm him down. Eventually it worked.’
Yeta Odusanya, mother of fellow boxer Anthony Joshua (pictured together), was also on board the flight, heading to Saudi Arabia to watch her son fight Andy Ruiz Jr on Saturday. Dillian Whyte is fighting on the under-card
Half a dozen stewards, one carrying handcuffs, also rushed to help, but after a few moments the man calmed down and returned to his seat.
A British Airways flight attendant confirmed that the incident was reported to police, although it is unclear whether the panicked passenger was arrested.
The airline sought to reassure passengers, saying it is impossible for a plane door to be opened mid-flight.
A spokesman added: ‘Our cabin crew cared for a customer who suffered from a panic attack during the flight.
‘We are sorry for any concern this caused our customers.’