GROVETOWN, Ga. (WJBF) – A Grovetown veteran is being called a hero after she stopped a passenger from storming the cockpit on a flight.
Nicole Pruitt was on board Delta Flight 937 from Atlanta to Tucson on July 16th. About 20 minutes after takeoff she saw another passenger walk to the cockpit. Pruitt said the flight attendant was trying to get the woman to return to her seat when the passenger said something that concerned her.
“The flight attendant said ‘Ma’am, please return to your seat. I cannot let you touch these doors.’ And the doors she was referring to was the main entrance door and the cockpit. And she was like, ‘No, I got a calling and God told me to do this.'”
Pruitt said the flight attendant couldn’t calm the woman down and no one else was stepping up to help, so she used her military training as a 26-year Army veteran to subdue her, but doesn’t understand why it was up to her.
“Why was I the one that had to intervene and step up? That’s not part of my job. I’m a paying customer. None of these flights are cheap. And that should not have been my position to have to step into. But I’m happy that I did step into it,” Pruitt said.
Delta released a statement saying, in part: “Delta sincerely appreciates the actions of our crew and customers for de-escalating this situation.” Pruitt accuses Delta of glossing over the situation.
“Be honest with the American people. Do not just protect your brand and your image. Say what really happened. And at this point, I really think their crew need retraining. If they have training at all,” she questioned.
Pruitt lost her husband in November. She told NewsChannel 6 that while everything was happening on the plane, she felt him with her pushing her to take action. And that if she had to do it over again, she would despite the potential danger to herself.
“Because that could have went all different directions. We just don’t know. But I will tell you, I think that was just part of my husband was telling me, ‘You better handle that.'”
After the unruly passenger was subdued, the plane rerouted back to Atlanta, where the woman was removed from the plane. Pruitt said she was told the passenger was having a medical emergency and wasn’t arrested.
Pruitt disembarked as well to speak to law enforcement and Delta officials.
Pruitt explained that Delta took her information and a photo of her ID and told her they would be reaching out, but she said she hasn’t heard from them yet.
A local group will be honoring Pruitt for her heroism on Saturday, August 2 at Rally Point Grill on Washington Road in Evans. The event will take place from 6-8 p.m.
