Attempt to flee delayed flight may land Briton in jail

A British tourist’s bid to flee a delayed flight by opening an emergency exit as the plane idled on the tarmac at a New York airport could earn him a year behind bars on charges of reckless endangerment.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement Monday that Robert McDonald, 60, of Crescent in Britain, is accused of opening the door on a Delta flight to Las Vegas after it was delayed several hours Sunday by bad weather.

“Apparently, the defendant wanted to get off the plane so he opened the emergency exit door. Fortunately, members of the flight crew were able to stop him before he could fully open the door and deploy the emergency chute,” Brown said.

McDonald has also been charged with criminal tampering.