A United Airlines passenger attacked a flight attendant and attempted to access the cockpit during landing on Flight 1837 at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The incident occurred as the flight was landing at approximately 6:25 p.m. on Saturday. The 48-year-old suspect was detained immediately after the altercation.
The pilot reported, “A gentleman just attacked one of the flight attendants and trying to open the forward main cabin door.” This prompted air traffic control to declare an emergency situation.
The flight had 170 passengers and six crew members on board. The aircraft originated from the Dominican Republic.
United Airlines expressed gratitude towards its crew, stating, “We’re grateful to our crew for their efforts to ensure the safety of fellow crew members and our customers.” One person on board declined medical attention, and no other injuries were reported.
The suspect was taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation following his detention. The FAA will investigate the incident, which is part of a troubling trend in airline safety.
So far this year, nearly 500 unruly passenger incidents have been reported according to FAA data. Passengers can face penalties of up to $43,658 per violation for assaulting airline crew members.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about airline safety and the increasing number of unruly passenger incidents affecting flights nationwide.
