Woman Detained In Custody After Trying To Open Airplane Door At 37,000 Feet

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A woman on board an Ohio-bound flight out of Houston caused a commotion when she tried to open the back door of the plane while it was flying at 37,000 feet. The “unruly”  passenger, who was arrested on Saturday after causing the disruption on a Southwest Airlines flight, claimed that “Jesus told her to open the plane door.”

The flight was eventually diverted to Little Rock, Arkansas and the woman was detained in custody.

Flight attendants said that 34-year-old Elom Agbegninou tried to pull the handle of the exit during the flight. Prior to this she had asked flight attendants if she could look out the window by the jump seat. She then tried to open the door but was wrestled down according to Southwest flight documents.

Another passenger, who was bit while trying to restrain the woman, claimed that Agbegninou reportedly said that Jesus told her to fly to Ohio and that Jesus told her to open the plane door.

Agbegninou had left her home without notifying her husband and was apparently bound for Maryland to stay with a family friend. On interrogation she said that she couldn’t breathe on the plane and decided to get up from her seat. She said she has anxiety attacks and normally wouldn’t have done these things.

Agbegninou is charged with assault maritime and territorial jurisdiction and interference with flight crew members and attendants.