An unruly passenger aboard a Breeze Airways flight destined for Los Angeles International Airport from Norfolk, Virginia, forced an unexpected landing in Grand Junction, Colorado, on Wednesday. The man, later identified as 46-year-old David Leroy Carter of Los Angeles, caused a disturbance mid-flight by shouting racist slurs and brandishing a skateboard as a weapon, according to reports from travelers and crew members, as per KTLA.
The altercation began when Carter, reportedly intoxicated, engaged in aggressive behavior with other passengers and flight attendants. As reported by KTLA, Jason Murchison, a passenger on the flight, attempted to defuse the situation by telling the man to calm down after witnessing him throw trash and shout racial slurs at a flight attendant. Despite being restrained twice by crew members, Carter managed to free himself and continued his disruptive actions, prompting an emergency diversion of the aircraft.
The incident escalated as Breeze Airways' crew requested assistance to subdue the passenger. A fellow passenger, only referred to as Ray, stepped forward to aid in restraining Carter. "Instinct just took over," Ray told NBC Los Angeles. "I didn't know it was going to get all like this. It was just instinct." Standing at 6 feet, 6 inches tall, Ray played football in high school in Watts, drawing on his physical prowess to handle the situation.
Upon landing in Colorado, Carter was taken into police custody with the involvement of the FBI. As noted by eyewitnesses and a video obtained by NBC Los Angeles, at least one passenger sustained minor injuries in the fray. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, is now engaged in probing the unsettling occurrence. While charges are yet to be declared by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado, the episode adds to the tally of unruly passenger reports, which have seen a decline since 2021's peak numbers.
