Man who stripped naked on L.A.-bound jet held by FBI
A passenger who stripped naked aboard a Los Angeles-bound US Airways jet, forcing its diversion to Albuquerque, will be arraigned Thursday and possibly be ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination, the FBI confirmed today.
Keith Anthony Wright, 50, a resident of New York, was being held in federal detention in New Mexico pending his appearance in court on charges of interference with a flight, said FBI spokesman Darrin Jones in Albuquerque.
“He removed his clothing during the flight and refused to put them back on,” Jones said of the disruption aboard US Airways Flight 705 on Tuesday.
The flight crew was simultaneously dealing with an unrelated medical emergency on board when authorities ordered the plane that had originated in Charlotte, N.C., to land in Albuquerque, said Jones.
“There are no further details why he may have done what he did, but the court may order a medical or psychological exam during his court appearance,” Jones said.
Marius Langlete, a passenger seated across from Wright, helped an off-duty Los Angeles police officer on board restrain the naked man, then snapped a picture with his cellphone and posted the image on the Internet. Charlotte-area media websites provided links with their stories on the incident with the warning that they were “graphic images.”
-- Carol J. Williams
Why did a passenger feel it was necessary to take a picture of someone who was clearly going through a psychotic episode? Expoiting people when they are at there most vulnerable, physically and mentally for all the world to see is, is disgusting. Poor man, I wish there was someone on the plane with amental health expertise that could have supported this person.
Posted by: stephanie | July 01, 2009 at 05:18 PM
If the pilot did not have the Remain Fully Clothed light illuminated, then I think the passenger was free to remove all his clothing. Some people are just more comfortable flying naked.
Posted by: Lou Bricano | July 01, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Why are Americans so uptight about nudity? I fly Air France nude all the time.
Posted by: Upright citizen | July 01, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Snapped a pic and posted it on the internet? That guy should go to jail too. I hear a lawsuit coming up!
Posted by: typedizzle | July 01, 2009 at 05:23 PM
Boy oh boy, you do not need to be psychopath to be or get NAKED. Get over it. He must of thought he was landing at a German beach.
Posted by: tobeNudeOrDie | July 01, 2009 at 05:45 PM
CONSENTING ADULT?
Keith Wright was either drunk, on drugs (legal or illegal), or deranged. Perhaps he wanted to get away from a troublesome personal situation (such as a failing marriage or a job termination). Sometimes, desperate people do crazy things. The court first wants to determine if he has a disgnosable psychiatric condition. Pretty good chance he knew what he was doing anyway and will probably do a few years in Federal Prison as a consequence.
Nobody would care if instead, he did this in downtown Portland, Oregon or San Francisco, CA instead of in a zero tolerance security environment (airport or commercial airline). Mr. Wright picked the exact wrong place to flash.
Posted by: H. Craig Bradley | July 01, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Eeeewww ! Sick people in wealthy Los Angeles !
Posted by: Peter | July 01, 2009 at 09:46 PM
Naked is as naked does.
But on a plane?
No!
Lock him up!
George Vreeland Hill
Posted by: George Vreeland Hill | July 01, 2009 at 11:41 PM