This was published 7 years ago
'Hero' tackles man on Air Canada flight trying to open plane door
By Amy Mitchell-Whittington
A man has been called a "hero" after he tackled a Sunshine Coast man to the ground on a flight from Vancouver to Brisbane on Thursday.
Shannon Horn was travelling with his newlywed on an Air Canada flight headed for Brisbane when it is understood a man became agitated.
"The flight attendants tried to get him to settle down and sit down," one passenger told 7 News.
It was then the man allegedly got up and ran to one of the plane's doors and attempted to open it, mid-flight.
AFP escorted the man off the plane when it landed in Brisbane.Credit: 7 News Queensland / Twitter
Mr Horn acted quickly, grabbing hold of the 25-year-old Currimundi man.
"This guy was trying to pull the lever to try and get the door open. I just reacted, I pulled his hands off and tackled him to the ground," he said.
It is understood the man was restrained in his seat until the plane landed.
Mr Horn's wife, Ana Rodriguez-Horn, called her husband a "hero".
Shannon Horn told media he tackled the man to the ground mid-flight.Credit: 7 News Queensland / Twitter
"The pilots shook my hand and said thank you," Mr Horn said.
Australian Federal Police escorted the Sunshine Coast man off the plane.
He assisted police with inquiries before he was allowed to leave the airport pending further investigation.
No charges had been laid.
Air Canada General Manager Paul McLean said the airline had a "zero-tolerance policy for disruption onboard our flights".
"The safety and well-being of all our customers is always our chief concern," Mr McLean said.