Soccer Team Leaders Subdue Erratic Man On Plane

Boston, MA (AHN) -- Members of a professional soccer team helped subdue an erratic man on a recent flight from Boston to Los Angeles.

A man described to the Associated Press as in his 20s and clean-cut stripped naked and emerged from the bathroom Friday on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles. After New England Revolution General Manager Craig Tornberg convinced the man to go back into the bathroom and put his clothes on, he came out and headed for the emergency exit.

That's when other members of the New England Revolution stepped in to help subdue the man, whose name has not been released.

Michael Burns, vice president of player personnel, assistant coach Gwynne Williams and Tornberg all pitched in to restrain the man who witnesses said was acting confused, not making sense, crying and talking "gibberish."

Flight attendants placed hand restraints on the man while the American Airline 725 was forced to make an emergency landing in Oklahoma City. There, the FBI took the man into custody.

No injuries were reported in the incident. The plane left Oklahoma City for Los Angeles about an hour after the man was taken for a mental evaluation.

The New England Revolution flew to California to play Chivas USA in the SuperLiga Tournament on Sunday.