Passenger Punches Flight Attendant, New Yorkers Come to Rescue
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When a passenger couldn't get past a beverage cart on his way to the bathroom on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to New York, he went out of control, knocking the cart over and punching the flight attendant.
Michael Isabelle, of Framingham, Mass., allegedly lost it yesterday aboard American Airlines Flight 256 from Rio de Janeiro, sources tell the New York Daily News.
The 63-year-old kicked the cart until it toppled over. Flight attendant Carlos Carrico grabbed his arm, the sources say, and then Isabelle hit him twice.
Two New Yorkers onboard the flight sprang into action, wrestling the unruly passenger to the ground and binding his wrists with plastic ties.
"The guy was big and he was screaming, screaming, screaming," Ramiro Silos, one of the men who helped subdue Isabelle, tells The Daily News. "I could not understand him. But when we took him down, we took him down hard."
Silos said he and his friend, identified as Fernando Gil, slugged the struggling man several times before finally pinning him down.
"I did ju jitsu in Brazil for nine years, so I can handle myself," says Silos. "But yes, we were worried because he was acting crazy. We didn't know what was going on."
Isabelle was taken into custody by Port Authority Police after the plane landed and he was brought to Jamaica Hospital for a psych evaluation, says the paper.
According to Isabelle's Facebook page he is a married war Veteran. Among his interests are riding motorcycles, yoga and "helping to maintain the freedom of this country and bring the Constitution back into focus."
A spokesman for American Airlines, confirmed the flight had "a disruptive passenger on board," but declined to give any further details.
The flight attendant declined to file a criminal report.
(Libby Zay contributed to the update of this report at 4 p.m. EST on Friday)
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Photo, eyeliam, flickr.
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Call me crazy, but I got tears in my eyes when I read that the flight attendant will not file charges. God bless your heart, who knows what the senior citizen was going suffering. Mercy is a wonderful thing.
January 31 2011 at 5:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAmericans saving the world, as always the hero has to be an American: "Passenger Punches Flight Attendant, New Yorkers Come to Rescue". New Yorkers????????? Gil is Argentinian and Silos Brazilian.
January 26 2011 at 12:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAmericans saving the world, as always the hero has to be an American: "Passenger Punches Flight Attendant, New Yorkers Come to Rescue". New Yorkers????????? Gil is Argentinian and Silos Brazilian.
January 26 2011 at 12:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHow convenient that this man's purported profile (returning soldier, pro-Constitution) happens to match Napalitano's criteria for "terrorist." I almost puked when I saw her read a Bible verse in Tucson. It was the DHS that gave out false information about the shooter in Tucson with no basis for it, to try to connect him with Palin and the Tea Party. This story reeks of a similar DHS plant to me.
January 24 2011 at 11:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyok i get it. ppeople who love America and the Constitution of the US are crazy. be careful America there are insideous progressive marxist/communists everywhere. especially people who are in journalism. pray for America.
January 24 2011 at 7:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replytom
screw you and the federal government.my city is over run by illegal foreigners.nobody stops them. you like government control go fug yourself
no freedom anymore.if you disagree you are crazy,drunk,drug addict,child molester etc. take your pick.now you know why politicians want a new federal against being armed within 1000' of thier presence.they are afraid of the population.revolution part 2
January 23 2011 at 10:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyevery story you read on aol some idiot tries to twist it into making the other political party look bad ! but if you notice its the ones who are at risk of losing ! most often democrats ! sad but true ! and the more stupid the comments the more desperate they are ! dayum you people are dumb
January 23 2011 at 1:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt is embarassing to have to explain in a crowded airplane that you have a bladder control problem and you have to go right then. I don't know if this is what happened--but that was my first thought.
January 23 2011 at 1:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySounds like the Yoga that he enjoys doing isn't doing him any good.
January 23 2011 at 1:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot 5 Deals
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