Minnesota Man Jailed in Alaska for Allegedly Using Drugs and Assaulting a Flight Crew

(KNSI) — A Minnesota man is jailed in Alaska after allegedly becoming combative with a flight crew.

According to court documents, Christian David Burch was on an Alaska Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Anchorage on Sunday when he got up to use the bathroom. A flight attendant on board 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 fight 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 the jump seat.

An announcement asked for a doctor or nurse on board because it was initially believed Burch had a medical emergency. A nurse came forward and said she believed he was suffering from an overdose.

According to witnesses, 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. It was so bad flight attendants said they had to change into civilian clothing as they didn’t want passengers to be alarmed by the blood stains on their uniforms.

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 and asked what he was doing. A flight attendant heard the question and said they also saw the packet.

Once the flight landed at Ted Stevens International Airport, the FBI met the plane and pulled Burch aside. Agents questioned him and asked what happened. 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. He said he didn’t know what the smell in the bathroom was and admitted to having the tin foil, but didn’t know why and denied there was a white powdery substance in it.

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. The foil packets did not test positive for any controlled substances.

A search of court records shows Burch has a lengthy criminal history, including domestic assault, assault, theft and criminal damage to property charges in Benton, Hennepin and Stearns Counties.

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

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