Delta Airbus A330. (Photo by Gordon Gebert Jr.)
An American citizen was arrested aboard an Oregon-bound Delta Air Lines passenger plane that left Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) hours earlier, sources told BNO News on early Sunday.
The incident happened aboard Delta Air Lines flight 261, an Airbus A330-200, that departed Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands at around 1.20 p.m. local time (CEST) on Thursday. Details of the incident did not emerge until early Sunday, when two federal officials confirmed the incident to BNO News.
Donald Welty, 48 of Portland, was one of the passengers on board Flight 261 when he became intoxicated from alcohol served on board the aircraft. When one of the flight attendants refused to serve him more alcohol, Welty allegedly became angry and threatened the flight crew.
The situation eventually escalated to the point where a Federal Air Marshal traveling undercover on board the aircraft was forced to intervene and subdue the passenger. Welty was taken into custody when the aircraft landed at Portland International Airport (PDX), at around 2.34 p.m. local time (PDT).
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has filed a complaint, and Welty may face federal charges that include assaulting an air marshal, disorderly conduct and harassment.
