August 17, 2025
The Breeze Airways flight was diverted after the man managed to break free from restraints twice, police said.
A Breeze Airways flight from Virginia to Los Angeles was diverted after a drunk passenger caused an offensive disruption, resulting in another passenger coming to the rescue.
The flight was scheduled to take off and arrive at LAX Aug. 13, but had to land in Colorado over the unruly passenger. According to People, the passenger appeared “intoxicated” as he hurled racial slurs and struck a flight attendant.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver Field Office later identified the man as David Leroy Carver Jr. of Los Angeles. Carver Jr. also allegedly waved around a skateboard, physically threatening those onboard.
Footage of the incident went viral on TikTok, with one video showing a passenger helping to restrain the man by lifting him up and placing him in his seat. Fellow passengers nicknamed him the “linebacker in 17C.”
@vadogwoodnews A Breeze Airways flight from Virginia to Los Angeles made an emergency landing in Colorado after an intoxicated passenger, waving a skateboard and shouting racist slurs, broke free from restraints twice. The man was taken into police custody, and fellow passengers spent hours stranded before continuing on to their destination. Follow @vadogwoodnews for more.
According to additional audio from pilots, the man used his belt to try harming other passengers, while a criminal complaint said the man made sexual comments and racial slurs directly at the Black flight attendant. He also allegedly spat chewing tobacco in another passenger’s face after they asked him to stop.
The Grand Junction Police Department wrote the ordeal on Facebook.
“Officers learned that an intoxicated male passenger became agitated, yelling racist slurs at airline staff while waving a skateboard,” police wrote. “Airline staff placed the man in restraints twice, but he was able to break free both times. At no time did the suspect physically assault anyone, and no injuries were reported.”
The police took Carver Jr. into custody at the direction of the FBI. He was detained at the Mesa County Detention Facility. A flight attendant and a passenger were evaluated for minor injuries, a Breeze Airways representative told NBC Los Angeles.
As for the “linebacker in 17C,” identified in outlets as Ray, he sprang into action when he heard that help was requested. “I saw black almost, and I just grabbed him and sat him down,” he told KABC.
@abcnews A passenger is in custody after a physical altercation with flight attendants and passengers onboard a Breeze Airways flight headed to Los Angeles, the airline said. He was restrained twice, but broke free both times, according to police. #news #airplane ♬ original sound – ABC News
Neither the airline nor police report disclosed what racial slurs Carver allegedly yelled on the aircraft. The incident is under investigation by the FBI, with charges expected soon.
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