Passengers Subdue Saudi on Board Jetliner

By Mike Waterhouse, newsnet5.com

The unruly passenger who caused a commercial jet flying from Chicago to Germany to divert to Cleveland Friday is facing federal charges.

The FBI said Monday that Saleh Ali S. Alramakh, aka Saleh Ali S. Alramaleh, age 21, of Riyadh Saudi Arabia, has been charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants.

The incident caused United Airlines Flight 944 -- en route to Frankfurt -- to divert to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at about 5:30 p.m.

According to the FBI, Alramakh went into the plane's bathroom and used an electronic device while the plane was taxiing in Chicago. He allegedly refused to follow the flight attendant's directives that he immediately turn off the device and return to his seat, but eventually returned to his seat...

At some point later in the flight, Alramakh got up a third time and approached a flight attendant in a "belligerent, confrontational manner," the FBI said.

"Alramakh was speaking in a loud tone of voice, using profanity, with his face inches from the flight attendant's face. The flight attendant asked Alramakh to step back multiple times, but instead Alramakh shoved the flight attendant backwards against the aircraft," the FBI said in a news release.

At least one passenger stepped in, grabbing Alramakh and helping the flight crew restrain him, the FBI said, but Alramakh refused to comply with the crew and continued to try to kick and spit on the people around him.