Unruly passenger dies in mid-air clash over a beer
From Tim Reid in Washington
US police are investigating the death of an unruly airline passenger who suffered a suspected heart attack after being restrained by passengers and crew on a flight to New York.
William Lee, 48, was pronounced dead late on Friday after he was removed from an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles at Kennedy International Airport.
Mr Lee, 48, of New York, stood up in his seat on the flight and loudly demanded another beer, Tim Smith, an airline spokesman, said.
Flight attendants asked him to wait until they reached his row, he said, but the man became very, very belligerent and loud and disruptive and was told he would not be served any more alcohol. The purser tried to calm him down, but he pushed her aside in order to move down the aisle.
Seven male passengers restrained Mr Lee, who was a very large man, and they and the flight crew put flexible handcuffs on him and put him back in his seat, Mr Smith said.
Mr Lee left his seat again and the men held him on his back on the galley floor until the plane landed, Mr Smith said. He said he was unable to confirm reports that the men were members of an international rugby team.
After the landing, Port Authority police administered cardiac massage to Mr Lee, who was in some kind of distress, Mr Smith said. He was taken to hospital, but was dead on arrival. Richard Brown, the district attorney in Queens, said he would investigate the incident thoroughly.
From Tim Reid in Washington
US police are investigating the death of an unruly airline passenger who suffered a suspected heart attack after being restrained by passengers and crew on a flight to New York.
William Lee, 48, was pronounced dead late on Friday after he was removed from an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles at Kennedy International Airport.
Mr Lee, 48, of New York, stood up in his seat on the flight and loudly demanded another beer, Tim Smith, an airline spokesman, said.
Flight attendants asked him to wait until they reached his row, he said, but the man became very, very belligerent and loud and disruptive and was told he would not be served any more alcohol. The purser tried to calm him down, but he pushed her aside in order to move down the aisle.
Seven male passengers restrained Mr Lee, who was a very large man, and they and the flight crew put flexible handcuffs on him and put him back in his seat, Mr Smith said.
Mr Lee left his seat again and the men held him on his back on the galley floor until the plane landed, Mr Smith said. He said he was unable to confirm reports that the men were members of an international rugby team.
After the landing, Port Authority police administered cardiac massage to Mr Lee, who was in some kind of distress, Mr Smith said. He was taken to hospital, but was dead on arrival. Richard Brown, the district attorney in Queens, said he would investigate the incident thoroughly.
