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Drunk Canadian Man Arrested After Trying to Rush Cockpit on Miami-Bound Plane

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took a man into custody after he tried to rush the cockpit of an American Airlines flight from Montego Bay to Miami.

ABC News reports that Ryan Snider, 24, made his way to the front of the plane rather quickly as it taxied on the runway at the Miami International Airport today. However, whatever plans he may have had were foiled as he was taken down by two quick-thinking male passengers on board before he could reach the cockpit.

ABC, previously described Snider as a “disoriented” Canadian man, but Miami Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta has reportedly confirmed to CBS News that he was in fact intoxicated.

Malik Cann, one of the two men who restrained him, told ABC News’ Miami affiliate WPLG-TV exactly how it all went down.

“We weren’t going to allow him to harm anybody or get to the cockpit,” Cann said. “He was screaming. ‘Get me off the plane. Get me off the plane.‘ That’s all he wanted to do.”

Flight AA 320 made it it gate D48 at Miami International Airort at 10:12 a.m. where the two potential-heroes restrained Snider until authorities made it onto the plane, which included several law enforcement agencies in addition to ICE, WSVN reports. He was later taken to the Homeland Security Offices at the airport.

Fortunately, none of the 165 passengers on board were injured.

Ronald Webb, another passenger on the flight, told WSVN that though the plane was already on the ground when the incident occurred, it still was alarming for everyone on board.

“We were a little bit worried because we didn’t know what it was all about,” he said. “It was frightening with terrorism as it is these days.”

FBI Miami spokesman Michael Leverock told ABC News that Snider is not currently on the “no fly list” and doesn’t appear to have any clear ties to terrorism.

The FBI has taken over the investigation and the commotion does not appear to have caused other airlines or flights to take any extra precautions as air travel seems to be running smoothly at MIA, WSVN reports. Snider will likely face federal charges, including interference with a flight crew

“We are aware of an incident on a plane in bound to MIA today (AA 320) in which a passenger reportedly rushed the cockpit door,” the FBI said in a statement. “The FBI is investigating the alleged incident, nevertheless the plane did land safely without damage to the plane or injuries.”

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also released a statement  that said authorities reacted “out of an abundance of caution.”

Snider is currently being interviewed and is scheduled to have his first court appearance on Tuesday in Miami.

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