A disruptive passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines flight caused panic after attempting to open the aircraft's cabin door while at 18,000 feet, claiming he needed air and was hallucinating.
Erratic Behaviour Sparks Alarm
The incident occurred on the evening of December 10 on Flight 10 from Dead Horse to Anchorage. According to an FBI probable cause affidavit, Kassian William Fredericks, 36, began exhibiting disturbing behaviour that worried fellow travellers and crew during the 90-minute journey.
Witnesses reported seeing Fredericks visibly shaking and muttering to himself. He was allegedly heard saying, "The wings have disappeared. We're all going to die." While some initially dismissed his conduct as a potential medical episode, others grew fearful of violence and moved away from him.
Attempt to Open Cabin Door
The situation escalated when Fredericks left his seat to use the lavatory. Instead of returning, he moved towards the rear cabin door. He removed the restraint strap and began lifting the latch upward, an act that could have been catastrophic had the door been unsealed at altitude.
In a state of panic, Fredericks told crew he required fresh air and asserted that invisible people were "flying the plane from back here." He added, "They're invisible. They're trying to take over the plane. You got to stop them."
It took three passengers rushing to intervene to physically restrain him after he had already lifted the handle. The crew alerted the pilot at approximately 8:10 p.m., when the flight was less than 20 minutes from landing in Anchorage.
Aftermath and Investigation
Upon landing at Anchorage Airport, police were waiting to detain Fredericks. He reportedly calmed down and apologised to the crew as he was escorted off the aircraft. He was later transported to Providence Hospital for evaluation.
The FBI affidavit states that police overheard Fredericks tell medical staff he had been drinking for ten days and was experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations. He also claimed not to remember the previous two years of his life. The document noted Fredericks had been taking the prescription drug Trazodone, used to treat depression and anxiety, which can cause confusion and dizziness.
During the flight, witnesses reported Fredericks asked for vodka shots, said he might be overdosing, and bizarrely claimed "Meth is coming out of the air vents." He was classified as a Level Two threat, indicating physically abusive behaviour.
An Alaska Airlines spokesperson confirmed Fredericks has been banned from the airline and thanked the crew for their professional handling of a dangerous situation. The Anchorage Airport Police Department and the FBI are involved in the investigation.
