Man who tried to open airplane door is released

Associated Press

DENVER — Authorities have released a man who tried to open an exterior door on an airplane while it was in flight with more than 100 people aboard.

The United Airlines jetliner was en route from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas when it was diverted to Denver International Airport on Saturday.

FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright says the man, whose name has not been released, tried opening one of the front doors of the airplane and may have tried to open the cockpit door before passengers restrained him.

Wright says the man was taken into custody, questioned and released for a medical evaluation after investigators determined the incident was not a “terrorism matter.”

Wright says authorities will review the incident and decide what charges to file.

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