A 19-year-old student pilot, Nathan Jones, caused a major disturbance on an Alaska Airlines flight from San Diego to Dulles International Airport in Virginia on March 3. According to court documents, Jones repeatedly tried to access the cockpit during the flight, prompting flight attendants to request help from off-duty law enforcement officers. Jones was restrained for the remainder of the flight and later arrested upon landing. Inside his luggage, law enforcement found multiple notebooks detailing aircraft operation techniques and a student pilot's license.

Jones has been charged with interfering with a flight crew, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. His attorney, Robert Jenkins, has requested a competency evaluation for his client, citing concerns about Jones' mental health. A therapist at the jail where Jones is being held has noted symptoms of a serious mental illness and recommended hospital-level care for him.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, which is part of a larger trend of unruly passenger behavior on flights. The FAA reported a total of 320 unruly passenger incidents in 2024, with 145 reports in January and 175 reports in February. Jones' family is shocked by the allegations against him and maintains that his behavior is inconsistent with his character. Jones is scheduled for a detention hearing on March 18 and will remain in custody until then.