'Passenger Ate Meth Before Diverting Flight,' Feds Say

PORTLAND, OR - Douglas Braden Smyser, the Bonney Lake man who caused a Compass Air flight to make an unscheduled landing in Portland last week, reportedly ate methamphetamine just before takeoff from Sea-Tac, according to federal court documents.

Smyser, 21, was released from Multnomah County Jail in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 15, two days after he was subdued by flight crew members and passengers who "became concerned about Smyser's actions" when he refused to sit down after takeoff. At his arraignment, Smyser was formally charged with menacing and disorderly conduct.

A federal complaint shows Smyser was kicked out of a Seattle area recovery home days before the flight. Apparently, Smyser spent those days homeless, planning to travel to the Alo House in Malibu, a beachfront drug and alcohol treatment facility.

Shortly after departing Sea-Tac, however, Smyser began pacing the plane's cabin, refusing to stay in his seat and at one point throwing his backpack into the aisle, which began buzzing, documents state. Authorities later learned Smyser's backpack contained an electric razor that turned on when tossed to the cabin floor.

Between 20 and 30 minutes after takeoff the pilot grew concerned Smyser would try to rush the cockpit, so the flight was diverted from Los Angeles to PDX for an emergency landing.

A passenger reportedly helped the flight crew return Smyser to his seat before using his body to prevent Smyser from getting up again. At one point, Smyser reportedly said someone on the plane had a gun.

The plane landed at Portland International Airport just before 8 p.m.

According to the Portland Tribune, Smyser later told Multnomah County jail staff he believed there were terrorists on the flight.

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Image via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office