Body camera footage has emerged showing a drunken passenger who had allegedly been swearing and headbutted a flight attendant being escorted from a plane that was forced to make an unscheduled landing.
Derek Maas, 28, was on a Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Orlando when his alleged boorishness forced the pilot to divert.
The plane instead landed at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City at around 1:40am this past Friday.
Maas, who reportedly took at least five shots of liquor before the flight, reportedly begged flight attendants for more, according to KFOR-TV.
Body camera footage has emerged showing a drunken passenger who had allegedly been swearing and headbutted a flight attendant being escorted from a plane that was forced to make an unscheduled landing
Derek Maas (seen left in the red shirt), 28, was on a Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Orlando when his alleged boorishness forced the pilot to divert
The plane instead landed at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City at around 1:40am this past Friday
It was later learned that Maas had taken five shots of Bourbon whiskey.
He told the flight attendants that two more drinks would help him fall asleep.
But the flight attendants refused to serve him more alcohol. In response, Maas allegedly grew belligerent and started to swear at them.
Maas allegedly headbutted one of the flight attendants.
‘It was a profanity-laced tirade he went on,’ said Master Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department.
‘And, then, at one point, he actually headbutted one of the flight attendants, a male flight attendant.
‘A fight ensued between flight attendants, some of the passengers and the disruptive passenger.’
The flight was reportedly 40 miles away from Oklahoma City when the altercation took place.
The Delta crew restrained Maas and the pilot landed the plane safely in Oklahoma City, where police officers boarded the aircraft and took Maas into custody.
Maas was handcuffed with zip-ties and led off the plane.
Maas allegedly drank five shots of Bourbon whiskey before the flight. He told the flight attendants that two more drinks would help him fall asleep. But the flight attendants refused to serve him more alcohol. In response, Maas allegedly grew belligerent
He was taken to Oklahoma County Jail and charged with public drunkenness.
Maas is now the subject of an investigation by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Law enforcement authorities praised the crew for their response.
The aircraft continued on its way, landing in central Florida two hours later than its original arrival time.
Delta Airlines has not said if it plans to compensate the passengers.
‘Delta 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 after a customer became unruly and violent on board,’ the company said in a statement.
‘The crew restrained the customer and the flight was met by law enforcement in Oklahoma City, where he was removed and taken into custody.
‘The flight continued to Orlando, arriving two hours past schedule.
‘The safety and security of our customers and crew are always Delta’s top priority.’