An Alaska Airlines passenger who has been banned from the airline now faces federal charges after allegedly trying to open the cabin door midflight while telling other passengers “we’re all going to die.”
According to a criminal complaint, Kassian William Fredericks was on Alaska Airlines flight 87 from Deadhorse to Anchorage on December 10 when he repeatedly attempted to open the aircraft door, forcing other passengers to physically restrain him.
A passenger told authorities that Fredericks was seen making multiple attempts to open the door during the flight, prompting several passengers to jump up and stop him.
According to a witness identified as M.P., Fredericks began repeatedly saying, “Stop the plane, stop the plane,” while anxiously looking toward the rear of the aircraft. When M.P. asked whether Fredericks was okay, he responded by claiming that the plane was being flown from the back.
When M.P. asked who was responsible, Fredericks replied that the individuals were “invisible” and attempting to take control of the aircraft. He urged that they needed to be stopped.
Shortly thereafter, M.P. observed Fredericks place a pill into his mouth and wash it down with Gatorade. Initially, M.P. believed the medication might calm him. Instead, Fredericks’s behavior appeared to worsen.
Following the incident, Fredericks told M.P. that he was overdosing. M.P., however, believed that Fredericks was experiencing the effects of drugs and described him as “tripping.”
As the flight continued, crew members kept a close watch on Fredericks as his behavior became increasingly agitated. They asked nearby passengers to remain alert and report any changes while the crew proceeded with routine beverage service.
At one point during the flight, Fredericks made a disturbing statement, saying, “The wings have disappeared. We’re all going to die.” Flight attendant S.G. immediately contacted the pilot to report the situation.
The plane landed safely in Anchorage where law enforcement and emergency medical technicians were waiting.
While receiving medical care at Providence Hospital, Fredericks made several statements to hospital staff that raised further concerns about his condition.
An Anchorage Police Department officer overheard Fredericks telling a doctor that he had been consuming alcohol continuously for the past nine to ten days. He also reported experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations and said he could not remember the previous two years of his life.
Fredericks was charged with interfering with the performance of duties of flight crew members or flight attendants by intimidating them or lessening their ability to perform those duties.
He faces a fine and up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Alaska Airlines said in a statement: “On Wednesday, December 10, a passenger onboard Alaska Airlines Flight 87 from Deadhorse, AK to Anchorage displayed erratic behavior and attempted to open one of the emergency doors. The passenger was intercepted and restrained until the aircraft landed safely in Anchorage, where it was met by law enforcement and EMTs.”
“The passenger who caused the incident has been banned from flying with us. We thank our crew for their professionalism in handling this situation, and we apologize to our guests for any concern this incident caused.”
The Deadhorse to Anchorage route serves workers from the North Slope oil fields, a remote region where substance abuse and mental health challenges can go unaddressed for extended periods.
Fredericks’s claim of drinking continuously for nine to ten days suggests severe alcohol dependence. Prolonged drinking at that level can cause delirium tremens, a dangerous withdrawal condition that includes hallucinations, confusion, and seizures.
The “invisible” people Fredericks claimed were controlling the plane from the back represent classic symptoms of drug-induced psychosis or severe alcohol withdrawal hallucinations. These delusions can feel absolutely real to the person experiencing them.
