Army vet grandma blocks crazed passenger from storming cockpit on Delta flight: ‘Not today'
A Georgia grandmother and army veteran is being hailed as a hero after she allegedly stopped an unruly passenger from storming the cockpit on board a Delta flight last week.
'Nobody else was doing nothing, so I just knew I had to do something,' Nicole Pruitt told 13 News while recounting her heroic act.
The no-nonsense nana was first seen in a viral TikTok video that showed the passenger restrained and on the floor following her attempt to enter the cockpit.
3 'I'm like, 'Wait a minute… Not today,'' recalled Priutt (pictured after helping restrain the flyer).
TikTok / @amorfatitestlab
The incident occurred July 16 as Pruitt was flying from Atlanta, Georgia to Tucson, Arizona to meet her new grandson.
Things took a turn 20 minutes into the trip, when a female flyer attempted to access the cockpit and the plane's main entrance — a frighteningly common occurrence in the friendly skies of late.
The woman claimed she'd received a divine directive to jump ship, WSAZ 3 reported.
'She didn't want to be on the plane anymore,' Pruitt, a 26-year army veteran, recalled. 'She said God told her to do it. She had a calling.'
That's when the steel-nerved senior decided to spring into action.
'I'm like, 'Wait a minute… Not today,'' recalled the Georgian, who helped detain the mile-high hellion as the aircraft began to turn around.
3 The unnamed passenger after being restrained by Pruitt and others.
TikTok / @amorfatitestlab
3 'She didn't want to be on the plane anymore,' Pruitt recounted.
KOLD
Accompanying footage, which was shot in the aftermath of the struggle, shows the troublemaker lying facedown on the ground with her hands tied behind her back as Pruitt stands by.
'I will whoop her a–,' the sky samaritan declares while returning to her seat.
The veteran said she was determined not to let the disruption prevent her from visiting her family. 'I've got to make it home to my kids, my children, my grandchildren,' Pruitt declared.
Pruitt's son, Tyrique Perry, who was waiting for her in Tucson, said he was 'not surprised' that his mom came to the rescue.
'Sometimes, it's just a natural instinct and you've got to get it done,' declared Perry, who uploaded the clip on TikTok so viewers could witness his mother's good deed.
They were quick to lavish praise on the sky Samaritan.
'This woman is a hero,' declared one admirer, while another wrote, 'Thank you, Queen Nikki.'
Others urged Delta to reward Pruitt for her courageous act. 'Bless this woman and what she did for everyone on that flight!!' said one. 'Delta step up and take care of her ForEva!!!!'
Another wrote, 'Delta needs to have this woman fly free for life! first class.'
Delta has since addressed the incident in a statement.
'Delta sincerely appreciates the actions of our crew and customers for de-escalating this situation,' airline reps said. 'We apologize to our customers for the delay and thank them for their understanding.'
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