A United Airlines flight traveling from Miami to Newark Airport in New Jersey on Tuesday night was forced to make an unexpected landing in Orlando after a passenger became "aggressive and negative," according to the airline.
The reason behind the violent incident, which has gone viral on social media, remains unclear. Footage shows a young woman—whose identity has not been disclosed—struggling with the crew as they attempted to restrain her. After being handcuffed with a zip tie, the woman managed to bite off a piece of a flight attendant's uniform while they tried to subdue her.
The passenger hurled multiple insults and expletives not only at the crew, whom she criticized for handcuffing her, but also at other passengers. She referred to one woman as "old" and told her to "go back to Russia."
The flight experienced a delay of approximately three and a half hours. Upon arrival in Orlando, the police boarded the aircraft and escorted the woman off, to the applause of some passengers. The passenger was then taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation, and no arrests have been made so far.
United Airlines issued a statement thanking their team for their professionalism and for protecting the other travelers. "Our flight attendants worked to deescalate the situation and protect the other customers, and upon landing in Orlando, law enforcement boarded the aircraft, and the passenger was removed," United said in a statement to The Associated Press.
The motive behind her aggressive behavior remains unclear. Since January 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received reports of 893 incidents involving unruly passengers, highlighting a troubling trend.
Details on the Unruly Passenger Incident
Here are some common questions and answers regarding the recent incident involving an aggressive passenger on a United Airlines flight.
What caused the flight to be diverted to Orlando?
The flight from Miami to Newark was diverted to Orlando after a passenger became aggressive and negative, necessitating police intervention.
What actions did the airline crew take?
The crew attempted to restrain the aggressive passenger, ultimately using zip ties to handcuff her. The police escorted her off the plane once it landed in Orlando.
Were any arrests made following the incident?
No arrests have been made so far. The passenger was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.
How common are incidents involving unruly passengers?
Since January 2024, the FAA has reported 893 incidents of unruly passengers, indicating a concerning rise in such behavior.