For the second time in one week, a contretemps over reclining an airline seat led to a flight diverting and landing short of its destination. An American Airlines flight bound from Miami to Paris landed in Boston Wednesday night after Parisian Edmund Alexandre, variously reported as 60 and 61, became upset when the passenger in front of him reclined her seat. Alexandre argued with the passenger in front of him and became disruptive, according to a CNN report. A uniformed flight crew member attempted to calm him. After the crew member walked away, Alexandre reportedly followed the crew member and grabbed his arm. Two undercover federal air marshals on the flight stepped in, and subdued and handcuffed Alexandre.
The flight landed in Boston about 10:00 p.m. and Alexandre was arrested by Massachusetts state police. He was taken to a hospital for observation and treatment of pre-existing health issues-he told officers that he had diabetes and high blood pressure, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. Alexandre was charged with interfering with a flight crew, arraigned at the hospital and released on his own recognizance until a Dec. 29 hearing. Earlier in the week a dispute broke out on a United flight from Newark to Denver when a passenger used a device to prevent the seat in front of him from reclining. A uniformed crew member ordered the passenger to remove the device, but he refused. The passenger whose seat recline was inhibited then threw a cup of water on the user of the device. The flight diverted and landed in Chicago where both passengers involved were removed.
