A 19-year-old student pilot allegedly rushed the cockpit on a cross-country Alaska Airlines flight multiple times because he “was testing them.”

Nathan Jones allegedly was aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 322 from San Diego to Dulles International Airport on March 3rd when he made three attempts to reach the front of the plane and open the cockpit door.

According to NBC News, an affidavit alleges flight attendants “requested the assistance of off-duty law enforcement officers, who restrained Jones in flex cuffs and sat on either side of him for the remainder of the flight.”

“A student pilot is facing federal charges after allegedly trying to breach the cockpit midair while he was a passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight. The young man’s family is requesting a mental competency evaluation,” World News Tonight writes.

WATCH:

Per NBC News:

When flight attendants asked Jones what he was doing, the defendant allegedly said he “was testing them,” according to the affidavit.

Jones has been charged with alleged interference with a flight crew, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars.

Jones had been living with his mother in Northern Virginia before this incident and defense lawyer Robert Jenkins wants his client psychologically evaluated before any kind of trial.

“We are very concerned about his mental health,” Jenkins said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday. “I intend to request that the court evaluating him for competency to stand trial.”

The defense on Wednesday filed a letter from the jailers in Alexandria, Virginia, who said Jones is on suicide watch while displaying “incoherent speech, disorganized behavior, mood lability and appears to be experiencing psychosis.”

From the New York Post:

As a result of the passenger’s repeated attempts to breach the flight deck, it was locked down for the duration of the trip — and cabin crew members took the additional step of putting the beverage cart in front of the cockpit to physically block access to it.

When the flight landed at Dulles International Airport, Jones allowed law enforcement to search his luggage, where agents found “multiple notebooks with writings describing how to operate an aircraft, including take-off, in-air, and landing techniques,” according to the affidavit.

His wallet was found to contain his student pilot’s license.

Jones’ lawyer, Robert J. Jenkins, told The Post on Wednesday that the charges against his client were inconsistent with his life, which included no prior history of arrests.

He described the student pilot as a young man who lives with his mother in Virginia.

Jenkins said that in the wake of the incident, Jones’ family has become concerned about his mental health. He added that there is no evidence at this time that the 19-year-old was intoxicated during the flight.

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