Belligerent passenger died of an overdose

NEW YORK – An airplane passenger who died after a struggle with several fellow travelers on a New York-bound flight in March suffered a fatal drug and alcohol overdose, authorities said Monday.

William Lee, 48, of New York, died from acute cocaine and alcohol intoxication aggravated by heart trouble, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office. The office ruled the death an accident.

Witnesses said Lee grew belligerent after flight attendants refused to serve him beer on a March 18 American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to John F. Kennedy International Airport.