‘We’re all going to die’: Passenger charged after trying to open plane door at 18,000 feet

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - A passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight has been charged in federal court after authorities reported he repeatedly tried to open a cabin door midflight, prompting passengers to restrain him and the flight crew to consider diverting the plane.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Kassian William Fredericks is accused of interfering with a flight crew aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 87 on Dec. 10 while the plane was in the air traveling from Deadhorse to Anchorage.

The complaint said the FBI was notified by Anchorage Airport Police after receiving reports that a male passenger attempted to open a cabin door while the aircraft was in the air.

Witnesses told investigators the man appeared erratic, was shaking, and made repeated alarming statements during the flight.

A passenger who was seated a few rows ahead of Fredericks told investigators he saw the man aggressively trying to open the rear cabin door. The passenger said Fredericks had already moved the door’s lever upward when he ran over and grabbed him, yelling for help from other passengers. Two additional passengers joined in restraining Fredericks and holding him in his seat, according to the affidavit.

Witnesses told investigators Fredericks repeatedly said he needed to “get out,” asked how to break a window, and told passengers he was overdosing. Several passengers said he appeared to be hallucinating, talking to himself and claiming invisible people were trying to take over the plane.

Another passenger told investigators Fredericks said, “Stop the plane,” and later claimed, “The wings have disappeared. We’re all going to die.”

According to the filing, Fredericks also told a flight attendant “meth is coming out of the air vents” and that everyone was “freaking out.” The crew said these statements were not based on reality.

One witness told investigators they observed Fredericks put a pill in his mouth and take a drink, after which his behavior worsened.

Flight attendants told investigators they did not believe Fredericks was drunk but said he was acting “weird and off.” Crew members said an indicator light in the cockpit activated, signaling that a cabin door was being manipulated while the plane was cruising at more than 18,000 feet.

The pilot told investigators it would have been impossible to open the door due to air pressure, but said moving the door arm could have triggered the emergency slide to deploy inside the cabin, potentially harming passengers.

The crew considered diverting the flight but decided to continue to Anchorage, where the plane landed safely. Fredericks was taken to Providence Hospital for medical evaluation immediately after landing, according to the charging documents.

While at the hospital, an Anchorage police officer overheard Fredericks tell a doctor he had been drinking heavily for nine to 10 days, was seeing and hearing things, and could not remember the past two years of his life. He said he was taking the prescription medicine trazodone, according to the filling.

Fredericks is charged with interfering with the duties of flight crew members, a federal offense that can carry significant prison time.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines confirmed the incident and said the passenger has been banned from flying with the airline.

“We thank our crew for their professionalism in handling this situation, and we apologize to our guests for any concern this incident caused,” said Tim Thompson, a spokesperson for the airline.

No injuries were reported.