Minnesota man detained following disorderly behavior on Alaska Airlines flight

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A Minnesota man was jailed in Alaska after allegedly becoming combative with a flight crew during a flight from Minneapolis to Anchorage on June 25.

According to court documents, 37-year-old Christian David Burch, of St. Paul, was on an Alaska Airlines flight on Sunday when he got up to use the bathroom. 

A flight attendant onboard said they heard a man screaming in the bathroom at the back of the plane. When they went to ask if the person needed help, there was no answer, followed by more screaming, and then Burch punched his way out of the bathroom because, he said, he couldn’t figure out how to unlock the door.

The flight attendant said it smelled like a burning, metallic odor, and Burch was “puffed up,” angry, drooling and foaming at the mouth. He then marched toward the front of the cabin, past his assigned seat, and was stumbling around. 

He was stopped by flight crew members before he got to the cockpit and placed in a nearby jump seat.

A nurse onboard came forward and said she believed he was suffering from an overdose.

According to witnesses onboard the flight, Burch became combative when someone went to get Narcan, and other passengers helped hold Burch down so he could be treated. They said he remained combative even after he was handcuffed. Other passengers and flight attendants were bloodied during the struggle after Burch bit through his lip and bled from his nose onto those individuals. 

Witness accounts said Burch calmed down after receiving two small doses of Narcan and was quiet for the remainder of the flight. 

He allegedly told a seatmate he wasn’t on drugs; rather, it was a panic attack. A witness said Burch tried to stuff a small piece of tin foil between the seats.

Once the flight landed at Ted Stevens International Airport, the FBI met the plane and pulled Burch aside. 

Federal affidavits said Burch told investigators he ate three gummy bears laced with hexahydrocannabinoil he bought at a gas station in Minnesota and reacted badly to them, which had never happened before. 

Agents said they found the foil packet he left on the plane, searched his luggage, and found another wadded piece of tin foil. His bag was swabbed and allegedly turned up residue of heroin and carfentanyl, an ultra-potent synthetic opioid. 

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Burch has previous arrests and charges involving domestic assault, assault, theft and criminal damage to property charges in Benton, Hennepin and Stearns Counties.

Burch has now been charged with interfering with a flight crew and assault. He is due in federal court Thursday.

Story by Jennifer Lewerenz / KNSI News