Man charged after forcing emergency landing at Kansas City airport

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lawyers have charged a California man with repeated disturbances while on an American Airlines flight. emergency landing at Kansas City International Airport.

Juan Remberto Rivas, 50, has been charged with assaulting and threatening a flight attendant and thereby interfering with the flight attendant’s performance of duties.

Rivas remains in custody as he is awaiting a remand hearing that has not yet been scheduled.

The flight, scheduled from Los Angeles to Washington DC, made an emergency landing in Kansas City around 2:28 p.m. Sunday.

Court documents say Rivas went to the cockpit area, retrieved a napkin with serving utensils from a counter, then used a plastic knife from the napkin and pointed it at a flight attendant. Are not.

Prosecutors said he then grabbed a small bottle of champagne by the neck and tried to break it on the counter.

Court documents also say he began kicking and shoving a service vehicle at one of the flight attendants.

Rivas is alleged to have grabbed the handle used to operate the plane’s starboard forward exit and put one foot on the door. That’s when Rivas started pulling the handle, trying to open the door.

A flight attendant took the coffee pot and hit Rivas twice in the head. One passenger punched Rivas in the jaw, and another passenger grabbed him by the neck and dragged him to the floor.

The passengers and flight attendants subdued Rivas, and then a pilot fixed his arms and legs with lanyards and duct tape. Rivas was treated for a head tear.

Court documents said the flight attendants did not serve him any alcohol during the flight.