A passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight from Deadhorse to Anchorage is facing a federal charge after authorities say he tried to open an emergency exit mid-flight on Dec. 10, prompting fellow travelers to restrain him as the crew weighed a diversion before continuing to Anchorage.
The case centers on a chaotic sequence aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 87 as the Boeing jet climbed over Alaska’s interior. Investigators say the man, identified as 36-year-old Kassian William Fredericks, moved to the back of the cabin and manipulated the exit lever, alarming nearby passengers who tackled and held him. While it is not possible to fully open a main cabin door at cruising altitude due to pressure differentials, officials said the attempt created a serious hazard, including the risk of triggering the emergency slide mechanism. The jet landed safely in Anchorage, where officers took Fredericks into custody and medics moved him for evaluation.
According to a criminal complaint, the disturbance began shortly after takeoff. A passenger returning from the lavatory told investigators he saw Fredericks at the aft door with the arm partly raised as cabin lights glowed dim for the climb. Witnesses reported hearing Fredericks say he needed air, ask for a cigarette and mutter about invisible people “flying the plane.” Others described him shaking and talking to himself. Three passengers moved in at once, pinning Fredericks’ arms while a flight attendant radioed the cockpit. The captain considered diverting to Fairbanks but continued to Anchorage after the cabin crew reported the situation under control. “There is no ongoing threat,” a written update to passengers stated as the flight descended toward Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
Records say Fredericks alternated between apologizing and making fatalistic statements, at one point saying, “We’re all going to die,” and asking whether he could break a window. Crew members initially wondered if he was suffering a medical episode, citing visible tremors, but did not deploy restraints until bystanders intervened and the threat level escalated. After landing, Port of Alaska police and FBI agents boarded, detained Fredericks and arranged transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center. There, staff documented remarks about recent heavy drinking, hallucinations and taking trazodone, an antidepressant sometimes prescribed for sleep. In interviews, Fredericks said he could not remember the prior two years and apologized for frightening those onboard.
In court filings, prosecutors charged Fredericks with interfering with flight crew members and attendants, a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The charging documents describe a “Level 2” onboard security event in which a passenger’s behavior is disruptive and potentially dangerous but contained without weapons. Investigators cataloged statements from multiple witnesses seated in the last rows, as well as observations from two flight attendants who said they saw the exit lever move from its fully locked position before passengers subdued Fredericks. The captain wrote that the aircraft was around 18,000 feet when the incident peaked and that he briefed air traffic controllers on the possibility of a diversion.
Officials said the attempted door manipulation could have deployed the emergency slide if the system had been armed, a scenario that would have damaged the aircraft and endangered those in the tail section. Aviation specialists note that cabin doors on pressurized aircraft cannot be opened at altitude because the higher pressure inside holds them fast against the fuselage. Even so, airlines treat any deliberate handling of exit hardware as an immediate safety threat. After the incident, Alaska Airlines notified the crew that Fredericks would be placed on the company’s no-fly list pending the outcome of the case, a step carriers often take while federal proceedings are underway.
The flight, which operates between the North Slope oil hub at Deadhorse and Anchorage, typically carries a mix of workers rotating on and off shifts and local residents traveling to Southcentral Alaska. Passengers said the cabin was mostly quiet before the disturbance. A man seated across the aisle from the aft galley told investigators he heard a scuffle near the door, then saw two travelers push Fredericks against the bulkhead while a third held his hands. Flight attendants secured the galley, moved carts out of the way, and asked those nearby to take empty seats forward as the captain began a moderate descent to reduce altitude and turbulence during the restraint.
What led to the outburst remains under review. The complaint does not list toxicology results, and no formal medical diagnosis was included in initial filings. Investigators said there was no sign of a coordinated threat or involvement by any other passenger. The FBI collected cabin statements, reviewed body-worn camera video from officers who met the aircraft, and requested maintenance records to confirm the status of the exit slide system at the time of the event. Agents also sought any available internal camera footage from the galley area and interviewed the flight crew about their security protocols once the disturbance started.
The episode adds to a year of heightened scrutiny for Alaska Airlines and the wider industry on aircraft doors and emergency exits. In January 2024, a door plug detached from a 737-9 Max on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, causing a rapid depressurization and sparking federal investigations and fleet inspections. While the two events are unrelated in cause—one mechanical, one behavioral—the airline’s operations have remained under a brighter spotlight as regulators, carriers and crews emphasize training and equipment checks. Aviation safety experts said the swift actions by nearby passengers and cabin crew in the latest case matched common industry procedures for disruptive behavior.
After landing in Anchorage, officers escorted passengers off the aircraft row by row while first responders remained with Fredericks in the rear galley. Paramedics reported that he was alert but disoriented. The crew completed incident reports in the gate area before continuing their duty day. The airline offered rerouting and accommodations to travelers who missed connections. By late evening, federal agents had filed a preliminary affidavit with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska outlining probable cause for the interference charge. The document summarizes witness statements, cockpit decisions and the condition of the exit mechanism observed after the aircraft parked at the gate.
Court officials scheduled an initial appearance for Fredericks in Anchorage, where a magistrate judge is expected to address counsel, set release conditions and schedule a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors said they will evaluate whether to seek detention based on risk assessments and the nature of the alleged conduct. If indicted, Fredericks would be arraigned on a formal charge of interference with flight crew members. A conviction can bring fines and prison time; judges also may order restitution or treatment requirements depending on the facts presented at sentencing.
In statements to investigators, several passengers said the cabin crew remained calm, directing people to move forward and avoid crowding the aisle near the door. One traveler described a tense but orderly scene as the captain provided updates over the intercom, explaining that the aircraft would land in Anchorage as planned and that law enforcement would meet the flight. Another passenger, who helped restrain Fredericks, told agents he acted “on instinct” when he saw the exit lever move. “Nobody panicked after that,” the man said. “We just held him and waited for the plane to land.”
As of Thursday, the case remains in early stages, with investigators compiling interviews and maintenance confirmations for the record. The airline has not released additional details about crew assignments or the exact aircraft tail number. Officials said future updates are expected with court filings, including any toxicology information or medical assessments submitted by defense counsel. The next milestone is Fredericks’ initial appearance in federal court in Anchorage.