Student pilot charged after trying to gain access to Alaska Airlines cockpit
A 19-year-old student pilot from Northern Virginia who repeatedly tried to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight from California to Virginia earlier this month has been charged with interfering with a flight crew, according to court documents.
The man, Nathan Jones, was traveling on Alaska Airlines Flight 322 from San Diego International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport on March 3 when he “interfered and intimidated flight crew members and companions,” according to an affidavit filed the next day. the district was filed. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
His attorney filed a motion this week arguing that Mr. Jones may not be mentally fit to stand trial.
The affidavit stated that Mr. Jones, a passenger in seat 6E, attempted three times to go to the front of the plane and “open the cockpit door of the aircraft.” Flight attendants requested assistance from off-duty law enforcement officers, who restrained Mr. Jones with flexible restraints and remained seated on either side of him for the remainder of the flight.
Flight attendants used a drinks cart to block the cockpit, the affidavit said. When they asked Mr Jones why he was trying to access the cockpit, he said he was ‘testing’ them.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in an emailed statement Thursday that the crew reported a “passenger disturbance” aboard the Boeing 737 and was investigating. The flight landed safely in Dulles at about 3:30 p.m. local time, the report said.
Agents searched Mr. Jones’ belongings after landing and found notebooks with descriptions of how to fly a plane, including takeoff, aerial and landing techniques, and a wallet containing his student pilot’s driver’s license, the affidavit said .
His attorney, Robert Lee Jenkins Jr., filed a motion Wednesday requesting a hearing on the mental competency of Mr. Jones, who is being held at a detention center in Alexandria, Virginia. Mr. Jenkins said that Mr. Jones made statements to him that raised “serious concerns about whether he understands the allegations and the reason for his detention.”
The motion included a letter from an Alexandria therapist describing Mr. Jones as having symptoms “indicative of a serious mental illness” and following “suicide protocols.” It said he was restrained several times a day and required hospital care to stabilize his mental state.
“It appears there is an acute mental health episode,” Mr. Jenkins said in an interview. “I have sought an order from the court to have him assessed as to his competency to stand trial and also for possible insanity at the time of the crime.”
Mr. Jenkins said Mr. Jones had traveled to Alaska to visit his father and would return to Virginia through a connection in San Diego.
His next hearing is scheduled for March 18. Mr Jenkins said that would discuss the bond terms and his request for a review.