A United Airlines passenger allegedly attacked a crew member and attempted to access the cockpit before being removed by police at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday evening.
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The 48-year-old man, whose name was not released, was detained and taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation, according to the Port Authority Police Department. A second person aboard declined medical attention; no other injuries were reported.
Police provided no further details, but air traffic control audio captured United Flight 1837 requesting an emergency vehicle upon its arrival at Newark.
“A gentleman just attacked one of flight attendants and trying to open the forward main cabin door,” a pilot said in the recording.
“Oh, my God,” the controller responded.
“Trying to access the flight deck,” the pilot continued.
United Airlines confirmed that law enforcement assisted Flight 1837 in handling an unruly passenger Saturday. In a statement, the airline said it was grateful to the flight crew for its efforts to “ensure the safety of fellow crew members and our customers.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the incident. The flight had arrived in New Jersey from the Dominican Republic at approximately 6:25 p.m. Saturday.
Nearly 500 unruly passenger reports have been filed so far this year; FAA data shows 110 of those came in April alone.
Just last week, video surfaced of a man attempting to open a cabin door aboard a Delta flight while it sat on the tarmac. The man was allegedly irate over an hourslong delay in Atlanta caused by a ground stop at the plane’s destination in Chicago, NBC Chicago reported. “Get me to the gate — I want off. Or I’ll take myself off,” he said on the video before reaching for the door.
Unruly passenger reports hit an all-time high of 5,973 in 2021, according to FAA data, and have steadily declined since, falling to 1,621 last year.
Depending on the severity of the behavior, passengers may face FAA fines of up to $43,658 per violation, federal criminal charges, or both.