Unruly passenger on flight diverted to Cleveland faces federal charges

CLEVELAND - The unruly passenger who caused a commercial jet flying from Chicago to Germany to divert to Cleveland Friday is facing federal charges.

The FBI said Monday that Saleh Ali S. Alramakh, aka Saleh Ali S. Alramaleh, age 21, of Riyadh Saudi Arabia, has been charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants.

The incident caused United Airlines Flight 944 -- en route to Frankfurt -- to divert to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at about 5:30 p.m.

According to the FBI, Alramakh went into the plane’s bathroom and used an electronic device while the plane was taxiing in Chicago. He allegedly refused to follow the flight attendant’s directives that he immediately turn off the device and return to his seat, but eventually returned to his seat.

Shortly after takeoff and while passengers are still required to stay seated, the FBI said Alramakh went into the bathroom again and used an electronic device. He once again refused to follow orders by the flight attendants to immediately return to his seat, investigators said.

At this point, the FBI said flight attendants unlocked and opened the bathroom door, at which point Alramakh became verbally abusive toward the attendants before returning to his seat.

At some point later in the flight, Alramakh got up a third time and approached a flight attendant in a “belligerent, confrontational manner,” the FBI said.

“Alramakh was speaking in a loud tone of voice, using profanity, with his face inches from the flight attendant's face. The flight attendant asked Alramakh to step back multiple times, but instead Alramakh shoved the flight attendant backwards against the aircraft,” the FBI said in a news release.

At least one passenger stepped in, grabbing Alramakh and helping the flight crew restrain him, the FBI said, but Alramakh refused to comply with the crew and continued to try to kick and spit on the people around him.

Alramakh’s conduct caused the flight to divert to Cleveland, where police were waiting for him at the gate.

Police said he was restrained on the floor of the aircraft near the bathroom.

According to an airport official, officers brought in K9 dogs to search the plane as a precaution. The plane was refueled and cleared for flight a short time later.

Alramakh attended a court hearing Tuesday, where a judge set his bond at $25,000.