A passenger who tried to force his way into the cockpit of an airliner today was subdued after the co-pilot hit him over the head with a fire axe.
Mr Pablo Moreira, a banker from Uruguay, was restrained by the flight crew and later arrested by police when UA Flight 855, a Boeing 777 from Miami landed as scheduled in Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital.
"The 28-year-old began kicking the cockpit door about five hours into the flight, as the United Airlines jetliner flew over Brazil," said FBI spokeswoman Ms Judy Orihuela.
"The captain opened the cockpit door and Moreira made it inside. The co-pilot grabbed a small axe and hit Moreira in the head, subduing him," Ms Orihuela said.
She added Moreira did not appear drunk and was not armed. She said she was not aware of any threats made by Moreira or what prompted him to try to enter the cockpit.
Mr Moreira was treated for his injuries and was lucid and in stable condition, she said. A flight attendant also received minor injuries while trying to keep Mr Moreira out.
United's chairman and CEO, Mr Jack Creighton, said: "The passenger never gained full entry due to the reinforced cockpit door bar United has installed on all of its fleet." Mr Moreira will be charged with interfering with a flight crew and flown back to Miami.
United Airlines said it had notified local authorities and the FBI about the incident. In a statement, United said flights to and from Argentina would continue as scheduled.
A statement from the company said 142 passengers and 15 crewmembers were onboard. AP