Plane en route to Winnipeg forced to land

A man who locked himself in the bathroom of a commercial jet en route to Winnipeg was taken to hospital for mental evaluation after the plane was forced to land in North Dakota, police said.

The United Express flight from Denver landed in Bismarck at about 12:45 p.m. Friday.

The episode ended about 15 minutes later when authorities entered the washroom and removed the man, who had removed his clothes and was making incoherent noises, police Sgt. Steve Kenner said.

Authorities said the man, who was not identified, was in his late 20s or early 30s. He did not struggle with officers and no weapons were found. No injuries were reported.

The plane was cleared of about 30 passengers before police forced their way into the bathroom, said Kenner, adding that the officers tried unsuccessfully to communicate with the man before breaking into the bathroom.

"It was pretty well isolated and they were pretty confident in what they were working with,'' Lt. Richard Poppe said Saturday.

The man was put on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to hospital for evaluation, said Poppe.

It was not known if charges would be laid, although police filed a report with the county prosecutor's office. "The final disposition of it will be up to them,'' he said.

Fonte: Associated Press - 18/12/2004