Unruly Southwest passenger pleads guilty in Texas to interfering with crew during May flight

July 25, 2013 at 2:30PM

MIDLAND, Texas — An unruly passenger on a Southwest Airlines jet bound from California to Texas faces prison for interfering with the crew during the May flight.

Federal prosecutors in Midland say 32-year-old Bryan Ray Allen of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., pleaded guilty Wednesday to interference with a flight crew. Nobody was hurt in the May 23 incident on Flight 863 from Los Angeles with stops in Las Vegas and Midland.

The plea agreement recommends a four-year prison term during sentencing this fall.

Investigators say Allen, whose destination was Dallas, smoke methamphetamine and drank alcohol before the trip.

Authorities say Allen was incoherent and began hallucinating during the descent to Midland, tried but failed to reach the cockpit and pushed a flight attendant aside. Allen was arrested when the jet landed.

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