A bizarre and tense situation unfolded on a trans-continental JetBlue flight, leading to a diversion and the arrest of a man.
The man refused to wear a mask, apparently so he could snort cocaine in the bathroom.
The bag filled with a white substance which was confiscated by cabin crew, hasn’t been confirmed as drugs although authorities said he will likely be charged with drug possession.
However, the situation then got progressively worse for fellow passengers and flight crew.
The 42-year-old from Mechanicville, New York was seen wielding a plastic knife and was accused of groping a female passenger as well as making inappropriate comments to others.
According to other passengers he yelled racial slurs even before the flight took off at the boarding gate.
In a statement JetBlue said: "JetBlue flight 915 was forced to divert to Minneapolis after a customer on board began acting erratically and aggressively toward crewmembers and other customers. The flight was met by law enforcement, and the customer was removed."
Addressing other passengers after the man was removed, the captain said he was ‘antagonizing other passengers, made knife stabbing motions’ and several passengers ‘felt threatened by his abusive language.’
