A United Airlines flight traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis in the United States was forced to divert to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday night after an unruly passenger sparked a security scare onboard.
The incident involved United Flight 2005, which changed course and landed in Madison after a passenger allegedly attempted to gain access to the cockpit during the flight.
According to air traffic control audio reviewed by CNN, crew members reported that the individual had made “multiple attempts to try to breach the cockpit” before being subdued by law enforcement officers who were traveling on the aircraft.
Upon landing, the passenger was taken into custody by local authorities. FBI spokesperson Caroline Clancy confirmed to CNN that the individual was detained after the plane arrived in Madison.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity, disclosed the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, or indicated whether criminal charges have been filed.
Passenger Mike Rundle, who was onboard the flight, recalled a tense scene unfolding during the journey.
A fellow traveler “saw the man at the front of the plane near the cockpit, in their words, kind of reach for a flight attendant and subsequently had multiple guys hold him back,” Rundle said.
Audio communications between the flight crew and ground controllers at Dane County Regional Airport revealed that law enforcement officers onboard managed to restrain the passenger before the aircraft landed.
The crew informed controllers that the individual was “seated in a seat” and “flanked” by law enforcement officers on either side while awaiting additional officers to board the aircraft after landing.
Rundle said he noticed “a little bit of a commotion” several rows ahead as people escorted the man back to his seat.
The aircraft then “made a U-turn and diverted to Madison,” he said. After touchdown, police officers boarded the plane, appeared to place the man in handcuffs, and escorted him off the aircraft.
The FBI said its Milwaukee Field Office’s Madison Resident Agency, together with local law enforcement agencies, responded to the situation immediately.
“The FBI was notified and ‘FBI Milwaukee’s Madison Resident Agency and local law enforcement partners responded immediately,’” Clancy said in the statement to CNN. “A subject was detained by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and afterwards passengers resumed their flight.”
Federal investigators have since opened an investigation into the incident but declined to provide further details, referring questions regarding possible charges to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Rundle also noted that signs of trouble emerged before departure. He said the same passenger had “stood up during the taxiing at O’Hare” International Airport and ignored repeated requests from crew members to remain seated.
According to Rundle, flight attendants later asked if anyone onboard could speak Russian and requested that person “to come to the front of the plane to help interpret.” The passenger eventually complied and sat down, allowing the flight to take off.
United Airlines said the Boeing 737 was carrying 147 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the flight diverted after the crew reported a passenger disturbance.
The agency noted that airlines have recorded more than 640 unruly passenger incidents so far this year.
The FAA said it “investigates all passenger-disturbance incidents” and can seek enforcement action against passengers who “assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crewmembers,” with civil penalties of up to $43,658 per violation.
