Off-duty police officer tackles passenger attempting to open exit during flight

(RNN) – An off-duty police officer tackled a passenger on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston when she attempted to open the emergency exit. The plane made an emergency landing in Corpus Christi, TX.

Passengers on Southwest Airlines flight 4519 said a woman was yelling and shouting that she needed her medication and the government mistreated her, prior to boarding at Los Angeles International Airport, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Once on board, the passenger paced the aisle and threatened to open the exit. When she moved towards the door, she was restrained by another passenger.

"She jumped toward the door of the exit. Somebody who was sitting down right next to her jumped and grabbed her and threw her down,” passenger Moses Obregon said to KPRC.

Pamela Minchew, the off-duty police officer, is credited with restraining the passenger.

She had observed the irrational passenger attempting to open the exit door in mid-flight. Fearing for her safety and the safety of everyone on the plane, she took action and was able to restrain the passenger," said Cleveland ISD Police Chief Rex Evans to the Chronicle. "I can't tell you how proud I am of her. She did a stellar job. The authorities are very pleased with how she handled the incident."

Video is showing up on social media about the incident, including the removal of the passenger from the plane.

Passengers disembarked and were on the ground for four hours in Corpus Christi. Everyone was safe, but law enforcement officials, including the FBI, wanted to question witnesses before they continued to Houston.

Southwest Airlines issued a statement about the incident and said the “safe operation of every flight is our highest priority.”

However, passengers have taken to Twitter to question why the woman was allowed to board when she was creating a disturbance before boarding the plane.

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