FBI says pilot tackles passenger who threatened flight attendant

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- An American Airlines pilot came to a flight attendant's rescue by tackling an allegedly drunk and disorderly passenger who had threatened to break her jaw, the FBI said.

The entire episode was caught on cellphone video.

Michael Kerr, 25, faces federal charges for allegedly interfering with the flight crew after his flight landed at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport on July 21.

Federal agents said Kerr consumed three glasses of Jack Daniels in just over an hour on a short flight from Lexington, Ky. to Charlotte, N.C.

Video shows Kerr refused to take his seat and followed a flight attendant up the aisle. He then told the flight attendant and the pilot to move before trying to run past the flight attendant, knocking her down. That's when the pilot stepped in. "Sit down. Sit down. Enough, you don't put your hands on my flight attendant," the pilot said, as he overpowered Kerr.

The Association of Flight Attendants issued a statement saying: "We have seen an increase in these incidents throughout the industry. Alcohol is a leading cause of air-rage incidents, as it seems to be in this case."

Kerr was released on $25,000 bond. No future court date has been set.