OKC Police Release Body Camera Video Of Unruly Passenger Taken Off Airplane

Oklahoma City police released body camera video on Wednesday of a man who caused a Delta flight to be diverted to Will Rogers World Airport last week. Police took Ariel Pennington, 35, into custody for allegedly assaulting a flight crew member. 

FBI officials told News 9 agents are investigating Pennington’s alleged unruly behavior and he could face federal charges. 

Passengers on a Delta flight Thursday from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles got quite a scare and shock when federal air marshals had to jump into action. Law enforcement had to subdue Pennington and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the nearest city. 

“At some point the passenger became very intoxicated and apparently caused quite a disturbance on the aircraft that resulted in not only a flight attendant being assaulted,” said Master Sgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department. “But air marshals having to take over, zip tie him and hold him until they could land the plane and let police come.”

Oklahoma City officers were standing by to take Pennington into custody. The unruly passenger was held at the back of the plane.          

“For real you got me locked up for nothing,” said Ariel Pennington, arrested passenger.

Pennington appeared cooperative once he was handed over to local police but still questioned what he did wrong.

“How am I getting arrested though? I ain’t even do nothing,” said Pennington. 

Once Pennington was off the plane, the FBI interviewed the man at the airport. He was then booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on two complaints.

“Public drunkenness and disorderly conduct,” said Knight. “Any charges that are more formal felony type charges will have to come at the federal level.”

Pennington posted on social media that he was surrounded, called racist slurs and attacked by other passengers. He did admit that he was intoxicated on the flight but denied attacking a crew member.