A United Airlines flight heading to Minneapolis made an unexpected stop in Wisconsin to deal with an unruly passenger. The flight, which originated in Chicago, landed safely in Madison after concerns arose over a passenger’s behavior, according to an airline spokesperson.
Law enforcement officials onboard swiftly restrained the passenger. Carrie Springer, spokeswoman for the Dane County Regional Airport, confirmed that deputies from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office met the flight upon landing and removed the passenger. The case is now under federal investigation.
Air traffic control audio revealed that a crew member informed controllers about the delay in subduing the passenger. The plane, a Boeing 737, carried 147 passengers and six crew members. Fortunately, no injuries occurred.
One of the passengers, Mike Rundle, described the man as possibly in his 70s and seemed confused. Rundle noted that the man stood up while on the runway in Chicago. Flight attendants instructed him to sit and asked if anyone on board could speak Russian. A commotion followed where a group of men led the passenger back to his seat.
Rundle reported that a fellow passenger said the man tried to ‘reach’ for a flight attendant, requiring several people to hold him back. Once seated, the man remained quiet for the remainder of the flight. He was handcuffed and escorted off the plane in Madison.
Rundle mentioned that the situation remained calm overall, with the flight crew effectively managing the incident. The flight successfully reached Minneapolis in the early hours of Saturday.