A disruptive incident on an Alaska Airlines flight has led to the arrest of a passenger who allegedly attempted to open the aircraft’s cabin door shortly after takeoff from Prudhoe Bay. The troubling event unfolded last week, prompting federal charges against Kassian William Fredericks, aged 36, for interfering with a flight crew.

Fredericks was apprehended by federal agents on Sunday, following allegations outlined in a complaint that detailed his erratic behavior on the December 10 flight. According to the Anchorage Daily News, flight attendants had refused to serve him alcohol due to his condition. Tensions escalated when a fellow passenger reported seeing Fredericks attempting to open the rear cabin door after emerging from the lavatory. Quick-thinking passengers intervened to restrain him.

Despite the mid-air scare, the flight continued safely to Anchorage, landing just 20 minutes later. While officials confirmed that opening the door mid-flight would have been impossible, the attempt raised significant concerns for the pilots. Automated systems had alerted them to the situation, and continuous tampering with the door risked activating the aircraft’s emergency slide inside the cabin, according to the affidavit filed in the case.

Fredericks, who works on the North Slope oil fields, appeared visibly agitated and was reportedly shaking as the flight progressed. In his distressed state, he expressed fears of overdosing and repeatedly called out for the plane to stop. Witnesses noted that he took a pill before the incident, adding to his erratic behavior.

Fredericks, an employee on the North Slope oil fields, was shaking and agitated as the flight got under way, the affidavit said. He commented that he thought he was overdosing and needed air, then was heard saying “stop the plane, stop the plane” before taking a pill.

The witness said Fredericks said he needed to call his mother and asked, “How do I break the window? I don’t know how to break it,” according to PEOPLE.

A passenger on the plane told investigators it was good thing many of the passengers were “North Slope workers who were bigger in stature to be able to help” restrain Fredericks, the affidavit said.

He was reportedly calmer by the time the plane landed and even apologized to the flight crew.

Alaska Airlines officials said the company has banned him from the airline.

Fredericks was “intercepted and restrained until the aircraft landed safely in Anchorage, where it was met by law enforcement and EMTs,” the company said in a statement. “We thank our crew for their professionalism in handling this situation, and we apologize to our guests for any concern this incident caused.”

He was taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center after the plane landed.