On February 1, 2025, a rare incident unfolded aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2221 from Oakland, California, to Portland when a male passenger experiencing psychosis attacked a fellow traveler, forcing a flight attendant to intervene physically to free the victim.

According to eyewitness accounts, the man, seated at the back of the aircraft, began exhibiting erratic behavior while the plane was taxiing for takeoff. He repeatedly slammed his head against the seat in front of him, briefly losing consciousness. 

Upon regaining awareness, he suddenly grabbed a female passenger’s hair and refused to let go.

The woman caught off guard and unable to break free, screamed for help as other passengers attempted to intervene. A flight attendant quickly stepped in, attempting to separate the assailant from the victim. 

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When verbal commands and initial physical efforts failed, the crew member delivered forceful punches to the man until he finally released his grip.

The flight crew immediately alerted authorities, and the Embraer E175LR N637QX returned to the gate, where security and medical personnel removed the man from the flight. He was reportedly taken into custody for further evaluation. The female passenger sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization.

The FAA and local law enforcement are investigating the event, and it remains unclear whether the passenger will face charges. The flight was delayed but later continued its journey to Portland without further disruption.

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The aircraft landed at LAX at about 8:10 p.m. without incident. First responders were standing by on the runway as a precaution. 

Out of the 175 passengers and six crew members aboard Flight 309, no one was injured. 

“While this incident is a rare occurrence, our flight crews train extensively to safely manage through many scenarios,” the airliner stated. 

Alaska stated that the pilot declared the emergency landing as a precaution to ensure the flight had extra support if needed. 

The company said it would investigate what caused the Boeing 737-900 to malfunction. The aircraft will not be in service during the investigation. 

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