American Airlines Flight 1561

American Airlines Flight 1561 was a scheduled flight from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, operated on 8 May 2011 by a twin-engine Boeing 737-800. A Yemeni passenger named Rageh Ahmed Mohammed Al-Murisi (also known as Rageh Almurisi) shouted "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the greatest) non-stop while trying to get into the cockpit, and was subdued by crew members and passengers.

Incident

During the approach of the Boeing 737 with 162 people to San Francisco, approximately over Modesto, California and some twenty minutes before landing, the Yemeni passenger Rageh Ahmed Mohammed Al-Murisi (also known as Rageh Almurisi) headed towards the cockpit while saying "Allahu Akbar"(Allah is the greatest), then attempting to break down the cockpit door.

While al-Murisi was trying to open the cockpit door, a flight attendant thought he was looking for a lavatory, and went over to where he was. After Al-Murisi was told for the second time that the cockpit was not a lavatory, he looked at the crew member, lowered his shoulder and began to strike the door with it with the aim of breaking it down. He persisted in his attempts to break down the door, shouting Allahu Akbar non-stop, even after a crew member positioned himself between the door and Al-Murisi.

Al-Murisi was subdued by several passengers and crew members, including a retired Secret Service agent and a retired police officer. They immobilised his hands and feet with rigid plastic handcuffs. He was officially arrested after the aircraft landed in San Francisco.

The incident occurred days after the death of Osama bin Laden. Retired San Mateo police officer Larry Wright, who helped immobilise al-Murisi, said he was sure that his intention was to crash the aircraft. Several passengers expressed their opinion that it had every reason to be a terrorist attack.

Al-Murisi was carrying a Yemeni passport and New York and California cards and identity documents (some expired), but carried no possessions except an Apple charger, a pair of sunglasses, $47, and two expired cheques with values of $5,000 and $8,000. He said he had no connection whatsoever with terrorist groups, although federal agents are still examining his background.