SKY HIGH CHAOS

Delta Flight Forced to Turn Back After Passenger Tries to Storm Cockpit

A passenger began exhibiting what Delta described as “unruly and unlawful behavior.”

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was forced to return to Houston shortly after takeoff on Wednesday morning after a passenger caused a disturbance. The plane departed William P. Hobby Airport around 5.30 a.m. with 85 passengers and five crew members on board. Minutes into the flight, a passenger began exhibiting what Delta described as “unruly and unlawful behavior,” approaching crew members and other travelers. “We had a passenger get up and try to access the cockpit,” the pilot reportedly said, in a recording of an exchange with air traffic control, obtained by CNN. The crew declared an emergency as a precaution and turned the Boeing 717 back to Houston, landing safely at approximately 5:40 a.m. “(He is) in cuffs in the back of the aircraft, but he did assault another passenger, so we would like that other passenger checked out,” the pilot reportedly told air traffic control. Delta later clarified the passenger “did not make contact with or attempt to access the flight deck.” No injuries were reported.