He should be prosecuted as if "the door would have opened" because if it had, what disasterous results could there have been! A little late then don't you think? If people are not any smarter than that after what has happened to us in the past (and will continue) then he deserves prosecution (and the butt whoppin!!) Please people, grow up and at least ack like you have some common sense.

There is no law against wearing military uniforms that you can buy from Army surplus stores! Rambo-wanabes and hunters wear them. That nut deserved what came to him.

Bravo to the passengers who took care of the nut case. By the way, where were the air marshals?
Another lesson in which we as Americans must protect ourselves, not depending on govt.

He should be charged. In jail he can throw all the punches he wants in the air, he will have ample time to do it.

Gwendol,
It seems obvious to me that you have never been in the middle of a situation like this. In these days, nobody, including Clint Eastwood, is going to be calm and cool when something like this happens and you are sitting in your seat watching. Nice thought but I don't think you would have had the wherewithal to get out a good scream let alone ask him that question.

Congratulations to the passengers for acting immediately upon a call for help from the flight crew. Nowadays any moron should realize one cannot act surly on airliner without inciting a violent response. Frankly, I'm surprised the guy wasn't confronted earlier while he was 'air boxing'.

When in danger you must protect yourself. Many times you cannot wait for the "authorities". Recognize there is something "not right" ... assess the situation ... act for survival.

I too would have whipped his butt. If an 8 yr old opened the door, or tried to, I would whip him and his parents. Prosecute his parents. This guy, put him to sleep and save a news report.

If he is wearing military fatigues and can not prove he is in the military he shouldn't have been allowed on the plane to begin with.

So it's O.K. to cause chaos on a plane as long as you do it "out of curiosity or boredom"? Something does not add up here. Why would he not be charged? I'm surprised he lived through the behavior.

Gwendol Bowling needs to get a clue and step into the real world as it exists today. You stand up and start acting weird on a plane these days and you will undoubtedly get your butt kicked by those who refuse to simply wait and see what happens. Some of us refuse to put our safety in the hands of others and will take action to subdue a threat. For anyone paying attention, recent history has taught us a valuable lesson about complacency and the nature of our enemy. Hesitation may well get you and others killed.

I believe that charges should be filed against him, but what I find strange or the information is not clear, it mentions that the air marshals took him, where were they if they were on the plane as stated on the NBC News and news services. Why would the passengers be the line of defense, and have enough time to rough him up, even though I am glad they were quick to respond. Where were the Marshals

He wasn't in the military, he was wearing military type clothing. He should be prosecuted for sure.

Regardless of whether the door handle had a fail safe design to prevent if from being openend and depressurizing the cabin, any passenger attempting to manipulate aircraft systems should be prosecuted. I don't understand why flight attendants normally make reference to only the smoke detectors in the lavatories in normal preflight announcements. The need exists for the definitions to be expanded and all passengers forewarned in the strongest terms.... with resulting severe penalties for offenders. Deterrence can only be achieved by setting examples against such macho nutcases, not rhetoric.

I guess he's not a very good boxer. He's been punched in the head a few times too many. Not to mention the a.. kickin' he got on the plane!

Just another reason why I don't fly. No nutcases in my car... except for me, of course.

Great job of second guessing Gwendol. Over all I would say pretty stupid comment. It is illegal unless there is a fire.

The guy should be tried and if found guilty given the same sentence anyyone else would have received.

I agree with most of the other people who have responded. This idiot should certainly be prosecuted. He caused a disturbance that could have given some other person on the flight a heart attack or asthma attack. I'm glad to hear fellow passengers said we are not putting up with this anymore. God Bless them! R Fiske, VA

What an idiot! This guy should definitely be made an example of by being prosecuted. I take it that these doors are designed not to be opened in flight precisely because of fools like this. Also, I read that they did not proscecute because the guy just did it out of 'curiousity' whicg means that he just wanted to see if he could open it or not. To me, that's even more reason to throw the book at him...potentially killing people just because he was bored and curious-he should be locked up!!!

If you don't prosecute him, it will send the wrong message; the message will be, that "hey, if you are board on a flight, go open a hatch and see what happens" "Oh, don't worry about being prosecuted because if you don't speak english, we will have symphathy for you." I agree with Amanda, there needs to be serious consequences for actions that cause disruptions or a sense of heightened panic on national transportation systems.

This man should absolutely be prosecuted. He, and he alone caused a situation that resulted in a perceived threat to passengers and crew. If a passenger was drunk or beligerent and caused a similar situation that person would be prosecuted for sure. What is wrong with the prosecutors? This sends a very bad message.

Bravo to the passengers that handled the unruly passenger. I'm glad to see that ordinary citizens will no longer sit back and be victims. That we actually learned something from 9/11, that the people who died that day did not die in vein. Hopefully, this will send a message "hey buddy if you think you are going to take this plane and harm us and anyone else for that matter you better think AGAIN! I know the next time I'm on a flight and I see some fool acting and looking strange no matter the color of his skin or nationality he will be handled in the same manner as this freak. Never forget or forgive 9/11!

... Well... I disagree several of you. Would it be appropriate to prosecute an 8yo after he did the same thing?? I mean.. You have to keep in mind, even though WE ( americans ) live with technology like its nothing, many other people the world over dont know what something as simple as a lever does on a hatch. Curiosity? Probably. Dumb move? Definately. Do I blame the other passengers for doing what they did? Definately not. Should FBI Prosecute? No. They have bigger fish to fry.

What example are the Feds showing to people who are trouble makers by not prosecuting. He should have been arrested by the air marshalls as soon as he started walking down the aisle punching into the air. He should never had been given the chance to get close to the door. Once again, security needs to be improved.

Even if he was in the military, does that excuse this man's actions? Would it be normal for him to walk down the plane throwing punches in the air and then play with the hatch of a plane?

Considering the circumstances, what was the fligt attendant supposed to do? Over power the man? Considering the circumstances, I think the passengers did the right thing.