An airline passenger has been charged after allegedly trying to storm the cockpit of a United Express flight and assaulting a flight attendant.
Matthew Dingley, a New Yorker travelling from Dulles International Airport to Newark reportedly ran at the cockpit as the plane was about to land.
“This guy was in a full sprint, right up to the cockpit, hits the cockpit, starts banging on it,” Mike Egbert, who was onboard the flight told NBC New York.
Dingley then “incessantly” beat a flight attendant, who Egbert described as “a slight woman, petite” who tried to intervene.
Another passenger who reportedly had law enforcement experience was able to step in and get the situation under control.
However, the things escalated once the plane was on the ground and Dingley was met by Port Authority Police.
“He picks up a police officer, throws the police officer…his back,” Egbert said.
“If he did actually get into that cockpit lord knows what would have happened.”
Six officers were injured in the trying to apprehend the 28-year-old, with one falling down the plane’s stairs and breaking four ribs.
Dingley has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and interfering with transportation.
Featured image: iStock.com/MatusDuda
