POLITICAL TURBULENCE

Flight Carrying Congressmen Diverted Over ‘Disruptive’ Passenger

The four lawmakers were on their way to D.C. to vote on ending the government shutdown.

A flight carrying four members of Congress made an emergency diversion to Kansas City because of an unruly passenger. American Airlines flight 1218 departed Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport bound for Washington, D.C., where the lawmakers were set to vote on ending the 43-day government shutdown. Democrat Rep. Greg Stanton and Republicans Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar were almost three hours into the flight when it was forced to land. Footage from a passenger onboard shows officers escorting an unnamed woman from the Airbus A320. As she walked down the aisle she apologized to passengers, firing off a parting shot: “We live in a fascist state.” On Tuesday, Stanton said on X, “Flying to DC rn to vote no on CR that fails to lower health care costs. @RepEliCrane, @RepAndyBiggsAZ & @RepGosar all on this flight. We’re making emergency stop in Kansas City to remove disruptive passenger. None of my colleagues is the disruptor. Freedom Caucus losing its mojo.” The plane took off again for Reagan National Airport after an hour’s delay, the New York Post reports. Speaking to KSHB 41, American Airlines said, “Law enforcement met the flight and removed the customer, and the flight later re-departed for DCA, where it landed normally. We thank our customers for their patience and our crew members for their professionalism.” The House later voted 222–209 to pass the Senate’s stopgap spending bill, ending the longest shutdown in history.