There was chaos on United Airlines flight 1837 on Saturday when a passenger allegedly attacked the flight attendant and tried to forcefully enter the cockpit. The plane was about to reach Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at around 6 pm when the situation worsened and the pilot had to declare an emergency.
According to reports, a 48-year-old passenger suddenly became aggressive. After the plane landed safely, the Port Authority Police immediately detained him and sent him to a hospital for mental health evaluation. It is a matter of relief that no passenger or crew member was injured in this entire incident.
United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement and praised the crew's quick actions in ensuring the safety of all passengers and employees. According to the company, the prompt and professional action of the staff ensured the safety of all passengers and staff. The airline said local law enforcement agencies were present to handle the situation as soon as the plane arrived.
Under US law, any person who assaults, intimidates or obstructs a flight crew member, including flight attendants, may face serious consequences. If found guilty in such cases, the punishment can be up to 20 years in jail, a heavy fine (about 2.5 lakh dollars) or both. Apart from this, a separate civil penalty can also be imposed under the zero tolerance policy of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This is not the first time such an incident has happened in an aircraft. Earlier on February 18, a passenger in Delta Air Lines flight 2557 also tried to reach the cockpit. After which the flight crew declared an emergency. Pilots at air traffic control reported that a passenger got up and tried to enter the cockpit. It is alleged that that passenger had also attacked another passenger.
The accused was controlled with the help of passengers and crew. After this, the Boeing 717 aircraft returned to Hobby Airport after about 17 minutes. The police took the passenger into custody and the flight resumed after a delay of about 90 minutes. Delta described the incident as disorderly and illegal behavior.
