Fed-up Briton 'tried to exit plane'

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Robert McDonald, of Glasgow, has been charged with reckless endangerment and criminal tampering for opening an emergency exit hatch as the plane waited out an hours-long delay at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York due to bad weather.

McDonald, 60, could face up to a year in jail if convicted.

Flight attendants stopped him from fully opening the door and activating the emergency chute, prosecutors said.

The incident happened on Sunday evening aboard a Delta Air Lines flight that had arrived at the Queens airport from Rome and was scheduled to go on to Las Vegas.

Flight 149 pulled back from the gate just after 5pm local time but was delayed on the taxiway for more than two and a half hours due to bad weather and congested skies, common issues at JFK.

At about 7.45pm, McDonald, who was travelling with his wife, lost his cool, prosecutors said.

"Apparently, the defendant wanted to get off the plane," District Attorney Richard Brown said, "so he opened the emergency exit door."

After flight attendants intervened, the jet returned to the gate. The flight, with 146 passengers aboard, was cancelled.

McDonald, who was arrested by airport police, did not enter a plea. He was released and was told to return to court on May 18.