AMXS Airman takes down irate airline passenger

Published June 26, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
436th AW Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- "I want to slit the captain's throat," is not what passengers want to hear an irate man, pacing up and down the aisles on an airline flight, shout over and over again. However, in the face of this peril on an international commercial flight to Italy, this is what one Dover Air Force Base mechanic discovered - and he came to the rescue.

Though Senior Airman Nicholas Barker, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, looked like the many other passengers on the June 9 Italy-bound craft, by the end of the flight it was apparent he was different - he was a hero.

Airman Barker was headed to Naples where he was to report for maintenance readiness training. However, fate had a different plan for the crew chief that day and he soon found himself in a perilous situation, strong arming and securing an enraged foreigner.

"He was pacing up and down the aircraft almost as he was looking for something," explained the Plymouth, Mich., native. "I wasn't the only person to notice his strange behavior. People all around were looking at him as if he was drunk and the crew was trying to calm him down."

Since Airman Barker doesn't speak Italian, he did not know the severity of the situation at first, but recalled the state of affairs leading up to his intervention.

"The aircraft's captain came to our section of the plane to try to get the guy back to his seat," said Airman Barker. "One of the flight attendants looked at me and said we may need your help."

Airman Barker stood up, but the situation seemed to calm and the passenger seemed to be heading to his seat so the Airman returned to his seat as well. A little bit later an announcement came over the airliner's PA system asking if anyone had law enforcement or military training.

Airman Barker made his way to the rear of the plane to see what he could do to help. What he found in the plane's rear was the same guy, more irate than before talking about hoping the engine would catch fire and how he wanted to slit the captain's throat. The situation required immediate action.

"A crew member handed me a pair of plastic [hand] cuffs," recalled Airman Barker. "As I began to walk over to the passenger, he saw the cuffs and started to resist. I then gave the cuffs to a flight attendant so that I could restrain him."

Airman Barker, along with the many other passengers that day, found themselves in a situation that could have gone downhill fast. Barker knew he had to act.

"I grabbed the guy's forearm, put my elbow into his shoulder and held him by his throat," explained Airman Barker. "I wasn't choking him, but applying enough pressure that he knew I could if I needed."

With the livid man subdued, a flight attendant was able to cuff his hands and feet. After that, Airman Barker situated him upright in his seat, buckled him in, and tied his cuffs to his seat belt. After he was secure in his restraints, Airman Barker returned to his seat near the front of the aircraft.

It soon became apparent that the man was trying to free himself from his restraints so Airman Barker was summoned.

"I just took a seat adjacent to him to keep an intimidating eye on him - it kept him calm," said Airman Barker. There was not any more trouble for the remainder of the flight.

Afterward, Airman Barker reflected on his training and the fact that being in the military gave him a leg-up in the situation.

"[Servicemembers] know to not freeze up under pressure," said Airman Barker, who explained most military members willingly sacrifice their safety for that of others. "I didn't have time to think. I knew this guy was a possible treat and this just had to be done."

The 436th AMXS commander, Maj. Stephanie Halcrow, was not surprised by Airman Barker's actions.

In fact, excellence seems to be a Senior Airman Barker trademark. He was recognized by Air Mobility Command's Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program inspection team for his superior performance during the inspection in April. Recently, in the face of danger, he shone brightest again.

Major Halcrow could trumpet her feelings for the crew chief in five simple words, "Senior Airman Barker - our hero!"