PLT RPT; B767-300; CHICAGO-DUSSELDORF. 3 HRS OUT; CABIN ATTENDANT WENT BERSERK; HALLUCINATING; VIOLENT; HIT A FLT ATTENDANT AND CAPT. LOST BODILY CTL. SENT TO HOSPITAL.

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APPROX 3 HRS INTO A FLT FROM ORD TO EUROPE; THE FLT PURSER EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF A MALE FLT ATTENDANT. HE WAS BOTHERING PAX AND APPEARED TO BE HALLUCINATING. HE THEN BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE LOST MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CTL. HE ATTACKED THE CAPT AND ANOTHER MALE FLT ATTENDANT. HE WAS THEN PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED AND CONFINED TO A CABIN SEAT FOR THE DURATION OF THE FLT. HE WAS MET WITH MEDICAL AND SECURITY SVCS AT THE END OF THE FLT AND TAKEN TO A MEDICAL FACILITY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THEY WERE FLYING A B767-300 FROM CHICAGO TO DUSSELDORF; GERMANY. THE MALE FLT ATTENDANT IN QUESTION WAS WORKING IN BUSINESS CLASS; WHEN HE STARTED HALLUCINATING. MOST OF THE ENSUING COMMOTION WAS CONFINED TO BUSINESS CLASS; WITH COACH PAX UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING; BUT THE BUSINESS CLASS PAX WERE BOTH FRIGHTENED AND WORKED UP FOR HAVING THEIR SLEEP DISTURBED. HE STARTED SHAKING AWAKE THE PAX TO TELL THEM HE LOVED THEM AND THEY COULD HAVE HIS HEART. THEN WHEN CONFRONTED BY OTHER FLT ATTENDANTS; HE STARTED SWINGING WILDLY AND STARTED TO PUNCH A PAX; WHEN THE CAPT CAME OUT OF THE COCKPIT AND STOOD BTWN THE FLT ATTENDANT AND PAX; AND THEN GOT HIT. THE CAPT WRESTLED HIM TO THE GND; AND THE FO HANDCUFFED HIM. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS EITHER BIPOLAR OR PARANOID/SCHIZOPHRENIC; AND HADN'T TAKEN HIS MEDICATION FOR A WK. HE HAD IN HIS POSSESSION ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND ANTI PSYCHOTIC DRUGS. THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT HIS CONDITION AND STILL ALLOWED HIM TO FLY; EVEN THOUGH HE HAD A LESS SEVERE EPISODE 3 MONTHS BEFORE. AN MD ON BOARD THOUGHT THAT HE SHOULDN'T BE HANDCUFFED; SO THEY CUT THEM OFF; ONLY TO HAVE TO PUT THEM BACK ON LATER. WHEN THEY LANDED IN DUSSELDORF; THE CUSTOMER SVC PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE HIM TO A HOSPITAL; THEY WANTED HIM TO GO TO THE HOTEL AND WORK THE FLT HOME THE NEXT DAY. THE CREW CONVINCED THEM TO TAKE HIM TO A HOSPITAL. THE FLT ATTENDANT THAT HE SLUGGED WAS ALSO SENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF HIS WOUNDS. THE RPTR'S MAIN CONCERN WAS TWOFOLD: WHY THE COMPANY; KNOWING ABOUT HIS PRE-EXISTING CONDITION; LET HIM FLY. THE OTHER CONCERN IS WHAT IF HE HAD A GUN OR BIG KNIFE WITH HIM; BECAUSE THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS BASED IN CHICAGO; AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS GO STRAIGHT FROM THE PARKING LOT CREW BUS DIRECTLY TO THE GATE; WITHOUT GOING THROUGH SECURITY.