Man restrained by passengers after trying to open plane's exit door

Stock photo: Getty

A man had to be restrained by fellow passengers after attempting to open a plane's emergency exit door following a 50-day drinking binge, that led him to believe the aircraft's wing was on fire.

Anatoliy Baranovich, 46, reportedly woke up during the Salt Lake City-bound Delta Airlines plane's descent, started yelling in Russian and tried to open the rear exit door, damaging the jet's fuselage.

Baranovich boarded the Delta Flight 1215 on Monday evening in Boston.

According to the criminal complaint filed on Tuesday in US District Court, after the plane touched down, Baranovich got up from his seat and ran to the back of the aircraft. He then tried to open the emergency exit door as a flight attendant ordered him to stop, reports news.com.au.

The door jammed and caused an emergency inflatable slide to malfunction, which caused "extensive damage" to the plane's fuselage, the FBI said.

He appeared in court this week on charges of damaging and disabling an aircraft, and interfering with a flight crew.

According to philly.com, Baranovich had been visiting family in the Ukraine for several weeks in an attempt to begin construction on a house. Unsuccessful in his efforts, Baranovich instead got drunk for the entire 50 days and "never sobered up."

Fellow passenger Mike Riegelman, a Boston resident who was flying in first class en route to Boise, Idaho, for a business trip, said he was torn between feeling sorry for Baranovich and being impressed by the Ukrainian's drinking prowess, adding: "He scared a lot of people, though."

A number of passengers reportedly tried to wrestle him to the ground after he attempted to open another exit door, and he was held down until the place taxied to the gates, where police and medical personnel were waiting.

Riegelman added: "Delta handled it well and, obviously, the passengers held onto the guy. The good news is people are alert and willing to help."

A detention hearing will take place on Friday. If convicted, Baranovich faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.

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