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SALT LAKE CITY — An unruly passenger escorted off a flight by police shortly after landing at the Salt Lake City International Airport was issued a citation for public intoxication and disorderly conduct Monday, police say.
Timothy Armstrong, 61, of Las Vegas, was identified Tuesday as the man taken into custody.
Armstrong was on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City when he became "combative" with the flight crew, according to police, and made vulgar and sexist remarks.
Salt Lake police were notified about 12:50 p.m. of the situation. Officers were waiting at the gate when the plane landed about 1:30 p.m.
"After the flight landed safely, SLCPD boarded the plane, took Armstrong into custody and escorted him off the aircraft," police said in a prepared statement.
Cellphone video recorded by another passenger on the flight, Utahn Dennis Busch, captured a clearly agitated Armstrong, who got out of his seat several times to argue with a flight attendant. The flight attendant is seen repeatedly telling Armstrong to remain seated until the flight had landed. At one point, Armstrong tells the flight attendant, "You can't hold us" and claims the plane is already on the ground.
In the video, Armstrong was slurring his words and stumbles as he walks in the aisle, then growls as he played with the mask that was supposed to be covering his face, at times putting it in his mouth. He then sits in his seat and appears to be mumbling or talking to himself about "America." Armstrong doesn't notice when the plane has landed and three Salt Lake police officers surround his seat.
"Really?" Armstrong exclaims as he is led away by the officers.
Armstrong was taken to a local hospital for an undisclosed reason after being escorted off the plane by police. He was later issued a ticket.
