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Copilot Used Axe To Subdue Cockpit Invading Passenger

Aired February 07, 2002 - 11:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also want to talk more about airline security. A short time ago, if you have been with us, you know about that plane, a United Airlines flight that originated earlier today in Miami, Florida, bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Again, a United Airline flight, in which one of the passengers became quite unruly, trying to break into a cockpit door.

One of the passengers was with us earlier today, describing what happened on board that plane. It was an amazing flight that ended up with one of the captains on board the plane hitting the man over the head with an axe. The FBI now says the man will be flown back to the U.S. and returned here from Argentina. And the FBI in Miami talked about what will happen next, a short time ago in Miami, Florida. Here is the FBI now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDY ORIHUELA, FBI INVESTIGATOR: Left Miami last night around midnight. On its way it Buenos Aires, Argentina. At about 5:30 this morning, an individual, Pablo Moriera, got out of his seat, walked toward the cockpit and started kicking at the cockpit door.

The captain came out of the cockpit. This individual forced his way into the cockpit, and the copilot took an axe and hit him on the head to subdue this individual who had illegally gotten inside the cockpit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: It was an amazing flight. Flight 855 United Airlines, bound for Argentina. We're told, later the man was restrained with the help of the flight crew on board that plane and some passengers as well, speaking English and Spanish we are told. Don't know a whole lot about the man, but apparently he was travelling with a colleague. Who he was or she was, we don't know right now.

But we're also told based on documents found on the man, he may have been from Uruguay. Again, this story coming to us just in the past 90 minutes. We'll follow it throughout the morning here.

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