On this flight, the turbulence was inside the plane.
Sudan-bound passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines jet sprang into action on Friday to overpower a fellow flier who began screaming just minutes after takeoff, reported The Associated Press.
The unidentified passenger, who appeared to be Sudanese, also started striking an oxygen mask box and cabin window before charging flight attendants in an attempt to sprint to the cockpit.
Thankfully, several fliers subdued the man in the business-class section before he could reach the cockpit, said passenger Hussein Malla, who is also an Associated Press photographer.
Flight attendants were able to pacify the man — who claimed he was struggling to breathe — after 15 minutes. He was escorted back to his seat as the plane proceeded toward Khartoum.
But nearly 21/2 hours into the flight, pilots announced the plane was returning to Istanbul. Several minutes later, the flier suddenly bolted toward the front of the plane, where others restrained him with plastic shackles provided by flight attendants, reported The AP.
Some fearful passengers began yelling while children wailed.
Istanbul cops met the plane after its landing about three hours after its initial takeoff and police escorted the disturbed man off the vehicle.
While departing, he shook hands with several passengers and kissed children.
As of late Saturday night, there was no word on where the man had been taken, his mental condition or if he had been charged.
