American Airlines Diverts Flight After Disruptive Passenger Bangs On Cockpit Door

Image courtesy of benh57

An American Airlines flight heading to Dallas/Fort Worth from Ontario, CA made an unscheduled stop in Lubbock this morning because of an unruly passenger who reportedly banged on the cockpit’s door.

Airline officials confirmed that the flight was diverted, reports NBC 5, with one passenger on the plane telling the station that the man was acting strangely on the flight, saying at one point he suddenly got out of his seat, went to the cockpit, and started yelling.

Flight attendants tried and failed to calm him, at which point several passengers forced him to the ground and restrained him. Police escorted the man off the plane upon landing in Lubbock at 5:17 a.m., passengers said. KCBD reports that no arrests were made, and that the passenger was taken to the hospital for evaluation. He’ll be transferred to the Lubbock County Detention center upon release.

American says the flight took off again with the remaining passengers about an hour later, and arrived at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport at 7:12 a.m.

Airline Passenger Bangs on Cockpit Door, Diverts D/FW-Bound Flight [NBC 5]
Disruptive passenger on AA flight ‘subdued’ by other passengers before emergency landing in Lubbock [KCBD]

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