Passengers Credited for Subduing Man Who Attacked Jet’s Crew

A hulking, incoherent man muttering threats and shedding his clothes broke through the locked cockpit door of an Alaska Airlines jet, attacked the crew and grabbed for the controls before he was wrestled to the ground by terrified passengers.

Police said they knew of no motive for Thursday night’s attack aboard Flight 259, which was making the same Mexico-to-San Francisco trip as an Alaska Airlines flight that crashed in the Pacific in January, killing all 88 people aboard.

A co-pilot using a fire ax fended off Peter L. Bradley, a 6-foot, 2-inch, 250-pound carpenter, authorities said.

The pilot called for help over the intercom, and five to seven passengers sprang into action, tackling Bradley and sitting on him while crew members put him in plastic handcuffs. He remained handcuffed for the rest of the flight.

“Fortunately, all the guys moved quick and he ain’t dead and we’re not dead,” said passenger Robert Benjamin, 56, of West Linn, Ore., who helped restrain Bradley. “I was scared to death.”

The flight was carrying 43 passengers and five crew members. The co-pilot required eight stitches to close a cut on a hand.

Bradley appeared in court Friday with a black eye and cuts and scratches on his face from the struggle. He had spent the night at a hospital for observation.

Bradley, 39, of Blue Springs, Mo., faces charges of assaulting flight crew members and interfering with their duties. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Bradley did not try to hijack the MD-83 jet but did threaten to kill people on board, the airline said. He broke through the locked cockpit door when the plane was 40 miles from Monterey, Calif., authorities said.

He “was going for the throttle and fuel controls,” said San Francisco Police Sgt. Joe Reilly.

“I can’t overemphasize the heroics that went on tonight,” said Reilly, referring to the passengers and crew. “They averted a tremendous disaster.”

Before breaking into the cockpit, Bradley had been roaming the aisles, speaking nonsense and taking off his socks and shirt, Reilly said. He repeatedly switched seats, disobeying orders to stay put.

Reilly said Bradley eventually sat in first class and said: “I’m going to kill all of you. Keep away from me,” while simulating a gun with his hand.

“What really scared me was when he tried to open up an exit,” said Chris Honochick, 37, of Salem, Ore., who helped subdue Bradley.

Police in Missouri said they have no record of problems with Bradley other than two traffic violations in 1979, when he apparently moved to Blue Springs. The citations were not drug- or alcohol-related.

Bradley’s public defender, Ron Tyler, said Bradley has no history of substance abuse or psychiatric problems.

After a delay in San Francisco to gather evidence, the flight continued to Portland, Ore.

It was the third incident this year involving the same Alaska Airlines route. On Feb. 7, sparks flew from one of the engines of a plane leaving San Francisco after arriving from Puerto Vallarta. No one was injured.