Airplane Chaos: Man Attacks Flight Attendant, Attempts To Enter Cockpit

Chaos erupted Thursday on a United Express flight after an aggressive passenger attempted to ram his way into the plane’s cockpit and attacked a flight attendant.

The flight, bound for Newark from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., was nearing touch down when Matthew Dingley, 28, got up and sprinted to the front of the plane.

“This guy was in a full sprint, right up to the cockpit, hits the cockpit, starts banging on it,” passenger Mike Egbert told NBC New York.

A flight attendant quickly attempted to intervene and stop Dingley’s attempt. This prompted the man to begin attacking the woman. Other passengers then tried to break up the attack and one passenger, in particular, was able to end the incident with apparent law enforcement skills. The attendant was later taken to the hospital for treatment and released shortly after.

Port Authority Police were standing by at the airport to handle Dingley. He charged at the officers, causing one to fall down the plane's stairs and break four ribs.

“He picks up a police officer, throws the police officer,” Egbert described. “If he did actually get into that cockpit lord knows what would have happened.”

A total of six officers were injured attempting to wrangle Dingley. He now faces numerous charges for aggravated assault and resisting arrest. It is unclear what motivated his attack.