A 30-year-old man whose mother says thought “somebody was after him” jumped out of the back door of a Southwest 737 while it was taxiing at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Saturday. The flight had just arrived from Colorado Springs and was headed to the gate when the man, identified by his family as Daniel Ramirez, took the leap. His family told ABC 15 in the accompanying video that Ramirez was returning to Phoenix after moving briefly to Colorado and was having a mental health crisis for most of the day. He’s now being held by police on felony trespassing charges. “I don’t want him portrayed as some kind of crazy person,” his mother told the TV station.

After Ramirez jumped from the plane, he got up from the ramp and walked to a nearby fire station where he locked himself in a dormitory room. “After a few minutes, firefighters were able to get the adult male to unlock the door where he was then evaluated, treated and transported to a local hospital for a lower extremity injury,” Fire Captain Todd Keller told CNN.

“Initial reports indicate that while the flight was taxing to the gate, a customer onboard exited the aircraft via a rear galley door,” Southwest Airlines spokesperson Dan Landson told the network. “The flight’s captain stopped the aircraft and notified air traffic control (ATC).” Authorities met the plane and checked the outside and it continued to the gate.

Russ Niles
Russ Niles
http://www.avweb.com
Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.

25 COMMENTS

  1. This report doesn’t seem to suggest that this man posed any danger to anyone other than himself. His family’s explanation of his behavior suggests that his behavior was a result of a psychotic episode. Charging him with trespassing seems to be an inappropriate response. Perhaps the Phoenix police and other agencies involved should consult a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist about how to handle persons whose behavior is odd.

    • The crazy breastfeeding cat lady needs a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Or two. Or both. Or two of both.

      That behavior is on a par with the jumper seeking to get away from those that were after him.

      I guess that anyone that refuses a flight crews order should just be treated as well.

    • I’m betting the P.D. had to charge him with something so they could arrest him and have him evaluated more thoroughly, and tresspassing was probably the least serious crime.

      • As a physician who used to work in the ER at Yale I can attest to this. My first thought on reading the article.

    • Rich, based on the story, I’d say the cops and others involved have acted with the kind of restraint you’re advocating. There were any number of federal crimes on offer here. And it helps no one to give free passes for potentially dangerous behaviour.

  3. The more crazy things going on at airline airports HAS to be helping General Aviation.

    Who wants to ride in a confined area–where you have no control–surrounded by people that often fight, are disruptive, lock themselves in the aircraft lavatory, don’t follow directions from the flight crew, or pose a danger to themselves and others?

    These kind of examples are the very same reason that so few people ride busses or trains (mass transit).

    Many people consider “small airplanes” as “dangerous”–I’ll take my chances on THINGS I CAN CONTROL rather than mix with the “general public” and this kind of irresponsibility!

  4. Maybe someone told him it was a Max 8 and they were gonna take off again … sending him off the deep end?
    🙂

  6. Worse. At least at Wally World, one can usually keep some space between himself and the rest of the customers, unlike the cabin of an airliner with cramped, narrow seating, someone’s knees in your back, and all the rest.

    That, along with the (1) unruly, unkempt passengers, some smelly, some unbathed, who refuse to use check baggage, and instead hold up boarding while they try to stuff 45 lbs of belongings into the overhead bin, (2) the joke that’s TSA, and (3) aloof, indifferent service, I won’t fly commercially – haven’t since 911. If I can’t drive to get there, I don’t go.

    • Better question is why didn’t the slide blow? Did the flight attendant disarm the slide before reaching the gate? Not good!!!

          • FROM THE ARTICLE:
            “Initial reports indicate that while the flight was taxing to the gate, a customer onboard exited the aircraft via a rear galley door,”

            It’s possible the story was reported incorrectly, but I have not seen a report yet that said it was an overwing exit. Every version I’ve seen reported it was a galley door. If I was the Southwest FAA POI (Principle Operations Inspector) I would be very interested if SWA flight attendants routinely disarm slides before blocking in at the gate.

    • I thought the same thing, sadly I had a friend who ended up becoming a meth addict. He traveled to Washington DC to try and figure out why the government was “spying on him?” Very sad..

  11. Well, he was at least half right. After he jumped from the plane, people WERE after him. Seriously though, untreated mental illness is a serious, and growing, problem in this country.

  12. His family told ABC 15 in the accompanying video that Ramirez was returning to Phoenix after moving briefly to Colorado and was having a mental health crisis for most of the day. He’s now being held by police on felony trespassing charges. “I don’t want him portrayed as some kind of crazy person,” his mother told the TV station.

    This is officially my favorite quote of 2021.

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