A320
Flight Attendant Current
Flight Attendant Airline Total 28; Flight Attendant Number Of Acft Qualified On 8; Flight Attendant Total 28; Flight Attendant Type 75
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
General Police / Security Involved
Human Factors
As we started initial descent I was standing at 1L and a passenger came up and told me she needed to get off of the plane. I explained to her we were still flying though almost there and I told her she needed to return to her seat. She did with no incident. I saw her to her seat and she fastened her seatbelt. I asked her to keep her seatbelt fastened and told her we would be landing soon. I then walked to the rear of the aircraft and told Flight Attendant (FA) 2 my flying partner; to keep an eye on her and I explained what she had said. FA 2 passed the word on to FA 3. I returned to my duties in first class. The passenger in 3E asked if he could help; and I told him everything was fine but yes; he could help me if she returned and I needed him.Approximately 15 minutes later; during final descent; I heard some yelling and saw the passenger coming up the aisle. I stopped her at row 7 and told her she need to return to her seat as we were landing. She let me walk her to her seat; I was holding her at the elbows from behind; as I could see she was unsteady. I sat her and fastened her seatbelt. I then noticed she was becoming agitated; bothering the passengers around her and trying to expose [herself]. At that point we were landing but I felt the safest course of action was to sit someone with her to ensure she did not touch anyone nor try to get up. I enlisted the help of a passenger; a male flight attendant. I removed the passenger next to [the individual] and put the passenger there. We agreed he could keep her calm until landed. While walking back up to my jumpseat I could hear a commotion and returned to row 30; where [this individual] was clearly increasingly agitated; slapping away attempts to keep her seated and calm; She then proceeded to expose herself again and I decided it would be best if I sat next to her. I asked [the passenger who tried to help] to take my jumpseat and perform door landing duties including door disarming and such when needed. I notified FA 3 what I was doing. All of this was happening during sterile cockpit.Upon landing I rang the call button and told my flying partner FA 2 to call the cockpit; explain what was happening and have security meet the aircraft. All the while I am literally holding [the woman in question] down; speaking quietly to her; trying to de-escalate her agitation. She repeatedly tried to stand; touch the passenger in 30F inappropriately; and climb over him and out the window. She continued to expose herself and I repeatedly told her to keep her top on and I kept trying to cover her. This was all physically almost impossible but I tried my best to calm her down and get to stop touching other passengers and saying inappropriate things. She seemed to respond.Upon arrival at the gate FA 3 made all announcements for me; including for the passengers to remain seated so security could enter the aircraft. When they opened the door no one was there; only an agent; no security. We sat; with me holding [the woman] and trying to keep her calm; for 10 minutes and no one came. Finally the captain made an announcement that we were not going to hold the passengers hostage since security did not show up and they could leave. It was getting increasingly difficult to hold [the woman].The passengers got up and started to deplane and one security person arrived. He came back to row 30 and proceeded to attempt to walk [the woman] up the aisle. She became agitated and began taking off her shirt again and exposing herself. I pulled her shirt down; told her to stay covered; and covered her with my arms as best I could. She fought security and I asked him to let go and I would help her walk up. This calmed her.When we got into the jetway there was no one there to help up. I was holding [the woman] as she could barely stand. And the First Officer (FO); was there and I told him we needed the police and paramedics. He told me he was a police officer. She became agitated when he lookedat her so he turned his back to her. He stood strong so I had support and she did not realize he was a man. (Men increased her hysteria). I held her upright by the wall with his help while we waited for the police and paramedics. The FO was such a huge help as my concern was that she would run back onto the aircraft and he prevented her from doing so without her realizing what was happening.About 20 minutes later the police finally arrived. They were able to get [the woman] into a wheelchair and took her in to the airport. She did not know where she was; thought she was in Dallas; and repeatedly tried to stand. The paramedics finally arrived and put her on a gurney to go to the hospital.This situation escalated quickly during sterile cockpit and we notified the captain as soon as physically possible; which was after touchdown. My concern as this incident unfolded was the safety of the aircraft and our passengers; including [the woman].
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
Two A320 flight attendants reported an encounter with a passenger and their efforts to keep her calm and in her seat until the aircraft landed safely.