A passenger aboard a Ryan Air Cessna Caravan flight in Alaska on Wednesday allegedly tried to take control of the plane and crash it, reports said.
The harrowing incident occurred while the aircraft was in flight between Bethel and Aniak about 2:44 p.m., according to a statement from Alaska State Troopers.
Jaden Lake-Kameroff, an 18-year-old from Bethel, stood from his seat and briefly took control of the yoke. Lake-Kameroff sent the plane into a nosedive before he was restrained by the other passengers, authorities said.
The pilot managed to regain control of the aircraft and land safely in Aniak.
“Lake-Kameroff had asked the pilot to fly the plane earlier during the flight and initially asked to sit in the unoccupied copilot seat. Both requests were denied by the pilot,” police spokesman Austin McDaniel told the Anchorage Daily News.
Lake-Kameroff later revealed that he decided to end his life while on the plane and indicated he had spoken with behavioral health officials before but felt the therapy hadn’t helped, according to the sworn affidavit signed by Trooper Jason Bohac.
None of the plane’s occupants were reported injured during the scuffle with the man.
“Our pilot relied heavily on his training procedures and his professionalism and landed without further incident,” Lee Ryan, president of Ryan Air, told the Anchorage Daily News.
“We’re extremely thankful for the safe outcome and extremely grateful for the passengers and the pilot and (flight) command collectively working together to land safely.”
Troopers arrested Lake-Kameroff on charges of second-degree terroristic threatening, five counts of attempted first-degree assault and four charges of third-degree assault.
