Back in May, as an American Airlines Flight was descending into San Francisco airport a Yemeni passenger, later identified as Rageh Al-Murisi, 28, stood up and charged the cockpit door ramming it with his shoulder, trying to burst through, while shouting "Allahu Akbar," or "God is Great."
A steward struggled to keep Al-Murisi away from the door protecting the plane's pilots.
However what Al- Murisi didn’t factor into his plans was that Bill Neider, 77 years of age and former 1960 Olympic Shot Put Champion and World Shot Put record holder was sitting in the first row of seats by the door. (Pictured after the incident and after winning the Gold at Rome Olympics in 1960).
As the flight steward started yelling for help Big Bill Nieder took off his seat belt, stood up and went into action.
Despite being hampered by an artificial shoulder, two artificial hips, two artificial knees and recent back surgery, there was nothing wrong with big Bill’s heart as he helped take Al-Mursi to the floor and pin him down. Retired San Mateo police Officer Larry Wright and a retired Secret Service agent also quickly responded and used plastic handcuffs and tape to bind Al-Murisi's hands and feet as he continued to shout "God is Great" in Arabic.
Authorities later said that Al-Murisi had no weapon and no known ties to any terrorist organization.
No one knew that, however, when Al-Murisi began shouting and trying to get into the cockpit just minutes before landing
Federal prosecutors say Al-Murisi is erratic and dangerous, and they charged him with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants on American Airlines Flight 1561.
"He attempted to enter the cockpit right before a critical part of the flight," Assistant U.S. Attorney Elise Becker said in prosecution arguments to withhold bail for Al-Murisi.
Despite the various artificial joints and back surgery last year, Bill Nieder remains active, and obviously able to help in a scuffle when needed.
Nieder grew up in Kansas, where he played football in high school. He had a football-career-ending injury, however, during his first game on the Kansas University team.
Nieder then switched his focus to track and field, especially shot put. He won the silver medal in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and then won the gold in the '60 Games in Rome with a throw of 64 feet, 6 3/4 inches.
Nieder said he was glad he could help subdue Al-Murisi.
"It is just fortunate we were able to take him down; that was it."
