Passenger Arrested After Allegedly Attempting to Open Cabin Door on United Flight
A United Airlines flight bound for Houston was forced to return to Indianapolis on June 30 after a passenger allegedly attempted to open the aircraft's cabin door mid-flight, prompting an FAA investigation.
United Airlines Flight 3989, operated by Mesa Airlines, landed back in Indianapolis after spending just 15 minutes in the air, according to tracking site FlightAware. A Mesa spokesperson said the passenger stood up roughly 15 minutes after takeoff and tried to move toward the front of the aircraft before being stopped by another passenger.
"A Belligerent Passenger"
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot alerting controllers to the situation. "We have a belligerent passenger trying to open the cabin door," the pilot said, according to a recording obtained by ATC.com. "We have passengers trying to get him secured in a seat right now."
The pilot requested and received permission to return to Indianapolis, adding that law enforcement would need to meet the aircraft at the gate.
What Happened on Board
According to court documents, the passenger had reportedly been drinking before the flight and was detoxing from methamphetamine at the time of the incident. Court records indicate he allegedly called 911 during takeoff and told the operator to stop the aircraft. Passengers held him down until the plane landed safely back in Indianapolis.
The Embraer E175 regional jet landed without incident and taxied to the gate, where the passenger was removed from the aircraft. Airport police responded and took him into custody, according to the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Flight Continued Hours Later
Following the incident, the aircraft was inspected before continuing on to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, arriving nearly two hours behind schedule.
The FAA continues to investigate the incident. So far this year, the agency has logged more than 830 reports of unruly passengers across the aviation industry, continuing a pattern of disruptive incidents that has drawn ongoing federal scrutiny.
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