david abels was with his 9-year-old daughter. >> well, people were shocked! and then, you know, bravely, some people got up and walked out, and i wish i could have, but i had to get my daughter home to her mother, you know? and yeah, she was frightened, the kids were crying. >> this guy is the one doing it. he ranted out multiple people in this aircraft. >> reporter: this is what it looked like when the flight attendant confronted passengers after he made his announcement. by then, american eagle flight 4607 had been delayed for about five hours. it was supposed to go from new york to raleigh, north carolina. rain prevented passengers from even boarding until several hours after the flight was scheduled to leave. once on the runway, there were more delays, and then the plane had to turn back to refuel. >> unfortunately, our hands are tied. we cannot leave until that release is obtained. >> reporter: passengers deplaned, and by the time they got back on, things came to a boiling point. police were called. but passenger john worcester, who was sitting in first

david abels was with his 9-year-old daughter. >> well, people were shocked.ou know, bravely some people got up and walked out. and i wish i could have but i had to get my daughter home to her mother, you know, and she was frightened. the kids were crying. >> this guy is the one doing it, he's the -- multiple people on this aircraft -- >> reporter: this is what it looked like when the flight attendant confronted passengers. by then, american eagle flight 4607 had been delayed for about five hours. it was supposed to go from newark to raleigh, north carolina. rain prevented passengers from even boarding until several hours after the flight was scheduled to leave. once on the runway, there were more delays, and then the plane had to turn back to refuel. >> unfortunately, our hands are tied. we cannot leave till that release is obtained. >> reporter: passengers deplaned. by the time they got back on, things came to a boiling point. police were called. but passenger john worster who was sitting in first class says it wasn't just the flight attend an end. he faults