A distraught passenger attempted to open the emergency door during an All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Houston, forcing the crew to divert the flight to Seattle.

According to eyewitnesses, the man — whose identity has not been disclosed — made the sudden attempt nine hours into the flight, while most passengers were asleep.

Two military veterans, with the help of flight attendants, immediately intervened, tackling and restraining the man before securing him to his seat.