EXCLUSIVE: PICTURED: Retired California roofer, 57, who fled moving United plane through emergency exit and walked along its wing after staff refused to serve him alcohol before takeoff
- Randy Frank Davila, 57, of California, opened the emergency door and walked across the wing before sliding onto the field on United Airlines flight 2478
- The Chicago Police Department reported he was ‘denied alcohol service by the flight attendants’ and was ‘talking to himself throughout the flight’
- The San Diego flight touched down in Chicago around 4.30am when Davila, seated in row 21, opened the door
- He was apprehended by the ground crew and later arrested and charged with a reckless conduct misdemeanor
- Davila will not be charged with a federal crime as there was ‘no signage on the emergency door nor the tarmac’ indicating it was a ‘criminal’ offense
- The flight was delayed 20 minutes on the tarmac before all passengers were safely deplaned at the gate
- He is due back in court in Chicago in late June and has a $3,000 recognizance bond
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This is the retired California roofer arrested for leaving a taxiing plane through its emergency exit window and walking on its wing after being refused booze.
Randy Frank Davila, 57, has been pictured for the first time in a mugshot obtained by DailyMail.com. He has been contacted for further comment about his alleged antics.
Chicago Police have also revealed that despite the chaos Davila allegedly caused, he’ll only be charged with a misdemeanor reckless conduct.
That is because neither the exit window nor the tarmac displayed signs warning that it would be a felony offense to exit a moving plane and trespass in a restricted area.
The drama began on United Airlines flight 2478 from San Diego to Chicago O’Hare Thursday after it landed in Illinois and began to taxi towards its gate.
Davila is accused of ‘pulling the emergency exit window while taxing, walking out on the wing of the plane, then sliding off the wing of the plane and attempting to direct the plane into the gate,’ the police report said. He has a $3,000 recognizance bond.
The Chicago Police Department reported he was ‘denied alcohol service by the flight attendants’ and was ‘talking to himself throughout the flight.’
However, Davila will not be charged with a federal crime due to there being ‘no signage on the emergency door nor the tarmac advising the subject that exiting a moving plane would constitute criminal trespass to restricted areas.’
Passengers aboard United Airlines flight 2478 from San Diego were stunned when Davila ripped open the emergency door in row 21, where he was seated, around 4.30am on Thursday.
Randy Frank Davila, 57, of California, ‘pulled the emergency exit window while taxing, walked out on the wing of the plane, then slid off the wing of the plane and attempted to direct the plane into the gate,’ the police report said. He was aboard United Airlines flight 2478 on Thursday
Davila, a retiree, was charged with a reckless conduct misdemeanor and the Chicago PD reported he was ‘denied alcohol service by the flight attendants’ and was ‘talking to himself throughout the flight.’ He is due back in court on June 27
A member of the ground crew had to stop him and call law enforcement. He was arrested ‘without incident’ shortly after.
Mary Ellen Eagelston, who appeared to be sitting a few rows back from the man, posted a picture on Twitter of the open door, writing: ‘Guy jumps out of my plane before we get to the gate.’
She later told NBC San Diego that ‘everyone was kind of a little surprised and [asked themselves]: “Did we really see what we really saw?”
Passenger Mary Ellen Eagelston post a photo on Twitter and later said everyone was ‘surprised’ and questioning: ‘Did we really see what we really saw?’
‘I just saw him exiting out and that was it. I guess he landed on the wing and then jumped down to the tarmac.’
The police report said the flight attendants ‘did not witness any of the described events.’ Flight attendant are typically seated at the front and rear of the plane during takeoff and landing.
United Airlines said in a statement on Thursday: ‘Our ground crew stopped the individual outside of the aircraft, and the person is now with law enforcement.’
An Air Traffic Control recording, obtained by NBC Chicago, reported someone saying: ‘We had to stop short of gate Bravo 3. Somebody pulled the rear right over wing exit. Someone in seat 21 Bravo has exited the aircraft and is on the ramp.’
The plane was delayed 20 minutes on the tarmac before continuing down the runway and safely deplaning all other passengers at the gate, Live and Let Fly reported.
Eagelston said there was ‘no panic’ or ‘worry’ and that passengers felt safe.
‘I felt like we were in good hands,’ she told NBC San Diego.
Davila is expected back in court on June 27.
The flight arrived to Chicago O’Hare (pictured) around 4.30am and all passengers were able to deplane safely after a 20 minute delay on the tarmac
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