Unruly passenger arrested and forces flight to land at IFRA

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By Danica Lawrence

Summary

An unruly passenger on a Skywest flight tried to break into the cock-pit during a flight; forcing the pilot to land and have him removed.

Story Published: May 3, 2010 at 7:49 PM MDT

Story Updated: May 3, 2010 at 8:05 PM MDT

Unruly passenger arrested and forces flight to land at IFRA
IDAHO FALLS - Last night, a Skywest plane was 60 miles north from Idaho Falls, flying from Helena, Montana, to Salt Lake City, Utah. The pilot made an unplanned stop at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport. One of the passengers, 32-year-old Matthew Kleindorfer from Las Vegas, got out of his seat during the flight and started banging on the cock-pit door, shouting to passengers and a flight attendant, he wanted to fly the plane. The flight attendant had to stand between him and the pilot's door. Another passenger grabbed Kleindorfer's arms and guided him back to his chair.

"Passengers basically subdued him and put him in his seat, and he stayed there," says Idaho Falls Police Sgt. Phil Grimes.

But he didn't sit still, he made several attempts to get inside the cock-pit and fly the plane. That's when the pilot made the decision to land at IFRA and have police take Kleindorfer off the plane. However, his behavior continued. He twice kicked at an Idaho Falls Police officer and said his situation was complicated and then called himself an alien.

"Ultimately, he had to be restrained and he was actually carried out through the terminal, with a lot of people in the terminal, so I am sure that was quite a commotion. He also made some statements that may have indicated he had some mental issues of some sort," says Sgt. Grimes.

Kleindorfer was traveling with a friend on the plane. His friend told police, Kleindorfer was staying with him in Montana when he began acting strangely.

So he wanted to get him back to Las Vegas. Matthew Kleindorfer was arrested and booked on disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and felony battery on an officer.

Eating healthier

Several local school districts have changed their cafeteria menus to healthier fare. What about you? Are you eating healthier than you used to?

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