A flight from Tokyo to Houston was diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Saturday after a passenger attempted to open two of the plane’s exit doors. The crew and fellow passengers restrained the individual, who was later taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.
According to the FBI, the incident occurred on All Nippon Airways Flight 114, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which had been in the air for approximately 10 hours. The plane landed safely in Seattle around 4 a.m. local time, with no injuries reported among the remaining passengers and flight crew.
“Port of Seattle Police were called due to reports of a passenger who attempted to open exit doors during the flight,” said spokesperson Chris Guizlo. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed the incident, stating, “Our report shows the flight diverted due to a passenger disturbance.”
Upon arrival in Seattle, a second passenger became unruly on the tarmac, punching a bathroom door due to frustration over the flight diversion. This individual was removed from the plane without incident before it departed for Houston.
The flight continued to its destination without further issues, landing just before 1 p.m. local time. No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Unruly Passenger Behavior on the Rise
This incident highlights the growing concern over unruly passenger behavior on flights. In 2021, the FAA reported a record high of nearly 6,000 incidents, although numbers have declined since then. In 2023, there were over 2,000 reported incidents, resulting in more than 400 enforcement actions and $7.5 million in fines.
Similar incidents have occurred recently, including a flight from Bali to Melbourne that was forced to turn around in April after a passenger attempted to force open a plane door. The FAA maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unruly passenger behavior, emphasizing the importance of safe and respectful travel.