Delta Passenger Tries To Open Emergency Exit To 'Share His Thoughts On COVID-19 Vaccines'

A Delta passenger has been arrested for attempting to open the emergency door of a plane mid-flight. The man claimed he did so to grab the attention of other passengers as he wanted to share his views on COVID-19 vaccines with them, federal authorities said.

The 32-year-old man from Portland, Oregon, identified as Michael Demarre, has been arrested on charges of threatening to interfere and interfering with a flight crew and attendants, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon.

The incident happened on Delta Air Lines Flight 1580 from Salt Lake City to Portland on Feb.11. Demarre allegedly attempted to open the aircraft's emergency exit door midair.

Witnesses said Demarre forcefully pulled on the emergency exit handle with his full body weight after removing the plastic covering over it. A flight attendant then asked him to stop touching the handle and requested him to move to the back of the aircraft. The staff restrained him until the flight landed in Portland, NBC News reported.

Demarre allegedly tried to open the exit door "so other passengers would video him, thereby giving him the opportunity to share his thoughts on COVID-19 vaccines," the arrest affidavit said.

Delta Air Lines said it has "zero tolerance for unruly customers and will continue to take action to reinforce the safety of our people and customers."

After multiple reports of incidents involving unruly passengers on flights, Delta CEO Ed Bastian sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier this month requesting him to add people convicted of such crimes to the no-fly list.

"This action will help prevent future incidents and serve as a strong symbol of the consequences of not complying with crew member instructions on commercial aircraft," Bastian said.

Demarre was ordered to be held pending further proceedings after he appeared in court Monday.

An American Airlines flight to Washington, D.C. was diverted to the Kansas City International Airport in Missouri last week after an "unruly passenger" allegedly attempted to get into the cockpit and open the door during the flight. The FBI was investigating the incident.