A former goal keeper coach for the Island's National Football Team "saved" a plane full of passengers after one man allegedly tried to open the emergency exit.

Gwynne Williams who had lived in Bermuda for 16 years and now coaches for the New England Revolution football team was travelling with the team from Boston to LA when one of the passengers 'bolted' for the emergency exit door.

Mr. Williams along with Michael Burns, the team's vice president of player personnel and Craig Tornberg, the general manager and vice president of business development reacted immediately and tackled the man.

Speaking from California last night, where the Revolutions were playing in the SuperLiga 2008 group play match against Chivas USA, Mr. Williams said their reaction was instant.

He said: "I didn't know what he was going to do. It was one of those things that was over and done with in a flash. I didn't have time to think of consequences or anything.

"A lot of people were sleeping and missed a lot of the excitement, but there were some very worried passengers close to that door."

The former Mount St. Agnes, Saltus and Sandys Secondary School teacher was sitting in row nine listening to his iPod when the bizarre events unfolded.

About two hours into the flight he saw the male passenger go to the bathroom. He had closed his eyes listening to the music when he heard Mr. Tornberg yell at the man.

Opening his eyes, Mr. Williams realised why — the man was naked.

He heard the man say: "I don't hear you. I don't see you. You're not from my world." An airplane steward quickly threw a blanket over him and forced him to get redressed.

Though there was communication with the pilot, they decided to continue the flight and Mr. Williams said after about 15 minutes the same man got out of his seat again.

After pretending to go to the bathroom, he seemed to change his mind and headed straight to the emergency exit.

Mr. Williams added: "He was playing with the door and at that point the three of us jumped on him and got him away from the door.

"We managed to handle him back to his seat and they restrained him with those plastic cuffs. Then the pilot came on and said it was a lockdown and nobody should leave their seats and they were making an emergency landing."

After the passenger was removed from the plane by air marshalls and the bomb squad in Oklahoma City, Mr. Williams said the flight was back on after an hour and was uneventful to LA.

None of the 18 Revolution players, which include Bermudian Khano Smith, were involved in the incident and the majority of them were seated in the rear of the plane, away from the incident.

The travel party, including all staff, was 26 people.

On their website last night, the Revolution football team thanked the American Airlines crew for "their swift action in helping ensure the situation didn't escalate and jeopardise the safety of the other passengers on board."

And Mr. Williams said he had already received ribbing from Jon Beard, chairman of Bermuda Island Games Association (BIGA), for a surprise save, which he could not remember Mr. Williams doing during his tenure as a goalkeeper on the Island.

He added: "We play tonight and leave later tonight. I am just hoping for an uneventful flight back."