BOSTON, May 11 (UPI) -- A Delta Airlines passenger who pulled an emergency exit handle during a flight from Florida was arrested when the plane landed in Boston, police said.
Robert J. Hersey, 43, of Arlington, Mass., was taken off Delta Flight 1102 Tuesday night by state police and other law enforcement officials at Boston's Logan International Airport, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.
Multiple passengers on the Airbus 320 jetliner reported seeing Hersey in the airport bar in Orlando, Fla. before the plane took off for Boston.
"He was very intoxicated," said passenger Todd Varley, 21.
The flight was about halfway to Boston when Hersey pulled the emergency exit handle he was seated next to.
Varley said as soon as that happened, an alarm went off and a flight attendant came and escorted Hersey to the rear of the plane.
A Delta spokesperson said a law enforcement officer who was on the plane assisted crew members in dealing with the incident.
State police said Hersey has been charged with interfering with a flight crew and additional charges would follow.
The plane was carrying 148 passengers and a crew of five.
