Marine restrains man allegedly trying to open plane’s emergency exit during flight

A U.S. Marine heading back to the states from Tokyo, Japan, quickly stepped in and slammed a man to the ground and restrained him with zip ties after he allegedly grabbed the emergency exit door in the middle of a flight, according to reports.

NBC reported Sergeant Major Jody Armentrout was on Flight 114 from Tokyo to Houston when he saw a man acting suspiciously.

Armentrout, who has been in the Marines over 20 years, is stationed in Japan, and he told the media company he witnessed a suspicious man take his backpack to one bathroom before going from bathroom to bathroom.

"He came out of that one and began pacing up and down the aisle, so that just threw my radar on," the 50-year-old Marine reportedly said during a phone interview.

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Armentrout said the man was looking at the emergency exit door next to him, and that’s when the Marine quickly got up and placed himself between the man and the door.

The suspicious man turned around and ran around the plane before darting to an exit door on the opposite side of the aircraft.

Armentrout told the station he only had seconds to act.

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"He grabbed a strap around the door, pulled it off and about that time is when I took him and slammed him, put him on the ground," he said. "And then there was an older gentleman sitting on that side that woke up, and he got up and kind of helped me."

Flight attendants also stepped in and handed the marine zip ties, which he reportedly used to restrain the man’s wrists and secure him to a seat.

For the remainder of the flight, Armentrout sat next to the man.

The flight was diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

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"His eyes … you could definitely tell there was something going on," Armentrout said.

FBI Seattle confirmed the incident, saying it, along with the Port of Seattle Police Department, responded to All Nippon Flight 114 Saturday morning.

"The flight was diverted to Seattle due to a passenger attempting to open the exit doors mid-flight," FBI Seattle said. "The crew and passengers restrained the individual, who was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation after the flight landed.

The FBI also said a second individual was removed from the flight after becoming frustrated with the flight diversion and punching a bathroom door.

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The flight continued to its destination after its stop in Seattle and landed in Houston without further incident.

No charges have been filed in the incident, the FBI said.

Prosecutors are reviewing reports and witness statements to determine if the case is appropriate for federal prosecution.

All Nippon Airways told Fox News Digital the flight was diverted due to an "unruly" passenger.

"While on the tarmac in Seattle, a second passenger became unruly," the airline said. "Both were removed from the flight by the Port of Seattle Police.

"The safety of our passengers and crew are our top priority, and we applaud the efforts of local law enforcement for their support."

Patrick Mahomes says Travis Kelce 'doesn't seem like a guy' who's retiring soon

On the eve of the 2025 Super Bowl, it was reported Travis Kelce was considering retirement and what happened in the big game could influence his decision.

The Kansas City Chiefs' dreams of a three-peat vanished, and Kelce announced he would be returning for the 2025 season.

It goes without saying Kelce is approaching the end of his career. 

He posted career lows in yards and touchdowns and, for a second straight season, failed to make an All-Pro team after doing so in eight consecutive years.

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He's also had two consecutive seasons without eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yardage.

"If it's the last ride, you would never know," Mahomes told reporters Thursday at Chiefs practice. "The way he's talking about football, the way he's talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year, he doesn't seem like a guy like it's his last ride, like he's tired of the job."

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Kelce, 35, initially said he was "kicking every can I can down the road" regarding his decision to retire. But, ultimately, "I f---ing love playing the game of football."

"I still feel like I can play at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year. I don’t think it was my best outing. I think I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them," Kelce said on "New Heights" in March.

"Especially if you look at my track record and how I’ve been in years past. I want to give it a good run. I have a bad taste in my mouth in how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was for the people around me. And I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility and in the community, and it’s home for me.

"I don’t want to leave that life yet. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and put in a lot of focus into being the best that I can for KC. Last year, it didn’t end well for us, and I feel like there is a responsibility in me to play out the contract I initially signed to give Kansas City and the Chiefs organization everything I’ve got, and that’s what I’m gonna do, man."

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