Passenger JUMPS out of Southwest Airlines plane while aircraft taxied to gate in Phoenix before BARRICADING himself inside the airport's fire station because 'he thought somebody was after him'

 A passenger on an arriving Southwest Airlines flight taxiing at Phoenix's main airport opened a galley door, jumped out and ran to an airport fire station where he barricaded himself because 'he thought somebody was after him,' his mother said.

Daniel Ramirez, 30, jumped from Flight 4236 after its arrival at Sky Harbor International Airport from Colorado Springs, Colorado, at about 8 am Saturday, officials said.

After Ramirez 'exited the aircraft,' the plane's captain notified the control tower so local authorities could respond to the situation, Southwest spokesperson Dan Landson said in an email. 

He then entered the fire station, walked into a dorm room and locked himself inside, Fire Captain Todd Keller, a Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson, said in an email. 

Authorities did not reveal why Ramirez fled the plane but his mother, Theresa Padilla, made an emotional plea to reserve judgment about her son.

'I don’t want him to be portrayed as some oh…some crazy guy that jumped out off the plane. You know. I mean, he was running and hiding because he thought somebody was after him,'  she told ABC15. 

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Pictured: Daniel Ramirez, 30, opened a galley door of a taxiing Southwest Airlines flight, jumped out and ran to an airport fire station where he barricaded himself, authorities said

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The incident occurred on Flight 4236 after it's arrival at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix from Colorado Springs, Colorado, at about 8 am Saturday

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Pictured: Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, where Saturday morning's incident occurred

Firefighters were able to get Ramirez to unlock the door, and he was then evaluated, treated for a lower leg injury and transported to a hospital, Keller added.

The plane with its crew and remaining passengers went to its designated gate without any further incident, Landson said. 

Ramirez, who lives in California, was booked for two felony counts of trespassing following the incident. 

According to Ramirez's mother, his family was concerned about him before he even departed Colorado for Phoenix for what was supposed to be a layover stop before he flew home to California. 

Padilla told ABC15 that she video-called her son before he boarded the plane, and that's when she knew something was seriously wrong. 

Padilla said that her son was in Colorado for a tiling job, however he abruptly said he wanted to return home because he feared for his life. 

His mother said that they immediately started the video call upon hearing Ramirez's paranoid state of mind.    

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According to Ramirez's mother, Theresa Padilla, pictured, his family was concerned about him before he even departed Colorado for Phoenix

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Padilla said that her son, right, was in Colorado for a tiling job, however he abruptly said he wanted to return home because he feared for his life

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Pictured: Ramirez, left, and his mother, right. His family said that he may be schizophrenic based off of their family history

'We were on the phone with him for seven hours. He was paranoid saying someone’s going to get me. Someone’s going to kill me,' said Emily Luevano, Ramirez’s sister-in-law, who was also on the video call. 

'I told him, I said…we’re not going to leave you alone. We’re not going to leave you alone,' Padilla added. 

The Phoenix Police Department said in an email it was investigating the incident and provided no additional information on Ramirez, including what exactly led up to the incident.

Meanwhile, Ramirez's family said that they hope he is given a mental evaluation before adding that he may be schizophrenic based off of their family history. 

His family said Ramirez is a kind and loving man despite his mental health problems. 

'And I’m not going to give up because his mental health comes first, above anything,' Padilla said of her son. 

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Ramirez, pictured left, has been booked for two felony counts of trespassing following the incident

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Aerial view of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, pictured. The incident did not delay airport operations, Sky Harbor spokesperson Julie Rodriguez said

'Don't judge them because you don’t know. You don't live in their shoes. You don't know what they go through on a daily basis,' Padilla said through tears. 

She hopes to have Ramirez back home to California soon to get him the help he needs, according to ABC15. 

The incident did not delay airport operations, Sky Harbor spokesperson Julie Rodriguez said.

'Local authorities responded to the situation and shortly after the flight continued to its designated gate with all remaining customers and crew,' the airline said in a statement Saturday afternoon.