Plane diverted to Sunport, man arrested

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A Continental flight was diverted to the Albuquerque Sunport when a man on board tried to open an emergency exit in flight.

According to officials, the unruly passenger became suicidal on the flight from San Jose, Calif., to Houston, Texas.

A source told News 13 the man asked a flight attendant for a knife, so she gave him a plastic one. After trying to harm himself and failing, the man stood up and walked toward the bathroom.

One passenger, who posted video and a comment on YouTube , said the man tried to open the side emergency door.

The source said that is when passengers grabbed the man. Some even sat on him until the plane landed.

The Albuquerque Aviation Police stormed in and carried the man off the plane. The FBI questioned him for hours before turning him over to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Officials said he was a Mexican national but do not believe he has any terrorism ties.

The FBI said there were no injuries reported on the plane, and passengers were not in any danger.

News 13 found out the man paid cash for his one-way ticket.

Some waiting for flights on Wednesday said they weren't surprised that passengers stepped in.

“The last thing that we need is one more horror story,” Ray Torres said.

The man was on Continental flight #1576. According to the Continental website, the flight took off from San Jose at 6:14 a.m. Pacific time and landed in Albuquerque at 9:37 a.m. Mountain time.

It took off again from the Sunport about an hour later arriving in Houston just after 1 p.m. Central time.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials are handling the investigation.