United flight diverted after ‘unruly’ passenger tried to enter cockpit
May 30 (UPI) — A United Airlines flight traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis had to be diverted after an unruly passenger attempted to breach the cockpit.
The Minnesota-bound flight instead safely landed at Dane County Regional Airport near Madison, Wisc., “to address a security concern with an unruly passenger,” the airline told The Guardian and NBC News.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police responded to reports about the passenger, who was detained at the airport after the flight landed.
“I do not believe they ever cuffed him, but they were able to finally get control of him after multiple attempts to try to breach the cockpit,” a crew member told air traffic controllers.
“I believe at this point he is seated in a seat and flanked with law enforcement officers on either side,” the crew member said.
The Dane County sheriff’s office told USA Today that the 75-year-old passenger who attempted to breach the cockpit several times appeared to be having a mental health crisis and seemed to be confused.
None of the 147 passengers and six crew members aboard the Boeing 747 was hurt in the incident.
Police said that the man’s family was traveling to Madison from Minneapolis to meet him and that no criminal charges are expected to be filed against him.
