A 29-year-old man is facing a slew of charges after he allegedly tried to storm the cockpit on a United Express flight to Newark and then attacked the flight attendant who attempted to stop him, NBC New York reports.
Matthew Dingley, 28, was aboard the United Express Flight 4965 from Dulles International Airport when as the aircraft was about to touch down, Dingley allegedly got out of his seat and began running at the door of the plane's cockpit. One witness who was sitting in the second row aboard the flight, told NBC the man was in a "full sprint" when he ran up to the cockpit and began banging on it.
When a flight attendant attempted to intervene and stop Dingley from busting his way in, he turned his attention to the woman and began beating her incessantly.
"A slight woman, petite, and this guy was clocking her," the witness, identified as Mike Egbert, said.
All this was going on as the plane was landing at Newark Airport - a dangerous situation for everyone on board the aircraft. Egbert and other passengers, including one who appeared to have law enforcement experience, stepped in to try and get the situation back under control.
But Dingley wasn't finished. After Flight 4965 was on the ground outside Terminal C, the suspect allegedly charged at Port Authority police officers, knocking one down the plane's stairs.
"He picks up a police officer, throws the police officer...his back," Egbert said. "If he did actually get into that cockpit lord knows what would have happened."
The officer had to be taken to the hospital where he was found to have broken four ribs. Port Authority Police say six officers in total were injured in the scuffle with Dingley. All six are expected to recover from their injuries.
Dingley faces a series of charges including aggravated assault and resisting arrest. It's unclear whether he had an attorney.
Photo: Port Authority Police Department