STORM2K

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A man was in federal custody Thursday after he tried to break into an airplane cockpit during a flight from South Africa to Atlanta, the FBI said.

Federal agents took James Drake, 53, into custody Thursday morning after South African Airlines Flight 7799 landed at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport.

The plane's crew told authorities Drake tried to rush the cockpit door at about 6 a.m. EDT, some two and a half hours before the plane was scheduled to land in Atlanta. He was subdued by two passengers, a deputy sheriff and a psychiatrist, the FBI said.

The FBI said the incident was not an attempted terrorist act. Drake is a U.S. citizen, but his hometown was not immediately known, said FBI spokesman Joe Parris.

Drake faces federal charges that could include interference with a flight crew member.

Drake was arrested in 1987 after a similar incident on a domestic airline flight, the FBI said. He did not stand trial in that case, Parris said.
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Why was this man ever allowed on an airplaine again?

As a South African myself... being over there too long can make you crazy and insane

This guy obviously has issues with flying!:o

Why was this man ever allowed on an airplaine again?

Good question! I don't know how that could be controlled however, but I think the idiot needs to spend some quality time in a jail cell (probably padded).

They can make his cell the size and shape of a cockpit, since he wants to be in one so bad.

I have a huge problem with this. It is my understanding that people will be "color coded" as to their potential risk for all flights. See http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/09 ... urity.html? for backup. This article did say this will become effective next year - and I'm sure it will be for American-based airports, but wasn't there a red flag waving in someone's face that this man had already been involved in a similar espisode in years gone by?