Air travel usually proceeds without a hitch, but sometimes unexpected events high above the clouds can force a sudden change of plans, leading to significant delays and disruptions for everyone on board. Recent incidents across major airlines have put a spotlight on just how quickly a routine journey can be thrown off course, whether it’s due to passenger behavior or, surprisingly, even a crew member’s oversight.
One such incident recently impacted a United Airlines flight headed from San Francisco all the way to Taipei, Taiwan. The journey was hours underway when the flight had to pivot and return to its origin. The reason? A spokesperson for the airline confirmed it was due to a “disruptive passenger.”
According to reports, law enforcement officials were ready and waiting at San Francisco International Airport upon the aircraft’s return. They successfully removed the passenger from the plane. While United didn’t delve into the specifics of the individual’s behavior, they did confirm the flight eventually departed for Taipei later that same Thursday evening. Flight-tracking data shows this particular United flight reversed course less than two hours after it had originally lifted off.
Sadly, this isn’t an isolated event when it comes to passenger disruptions in the skies, although overall rates have seen a positive trend. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the rate of unruly-passenger incidents has dropped more than 80% after hitting record highs in 2021. In 2022, the FAA received 2,455 reports, a significant decrease from the 5,973 logged the previous year. As of July 16 this year, 1,034 reports had been received, showing the issue, while less frequent, still occurs.
A different dramatic turning point occurred on an American Airlines flight bound for Milan from New York. This flight was hours into its transatlantic journey before it was compelled to head back to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Multiple reports suggest this diversion stemmed from a passenger who was described as “wilding over a meal preference and his seating,” escalating to the point of disrupting the entire flight.
The American Airlines flight had taken off from JFK at 7 p.m. on a Monday. Around the four-hour mark, an announcement revealed the plane was rerouting back to New York. It ultimately landed back at JFK at approximately 3 a.m. CBS News reported that the passenger was escorted off the aircraft after landing, and was later released without facing any criminal charges.
Passengers aboard this flight shared their unsettling experiences. Krystie Tomlinson, one traveler, claimed that flight officials began inquiring about law enforcement presence after realizing they couldn’t locate an air marshal on board. She recounted the passenger’s actions, stating he was “charging at the stewardesses” in the back and at one point “tried to barge into the pilot’s cabin.”
Tomlinson’s account shed light on the passenger’s alleged motivations. She reportedly said the entire ordeal began because of “a meal choice they didn’t get,” which they had apparently requested beforehand. Additionally, the passenger reportedly “wanted to sit in an exit row,” but as they “had a baby with them, so they told them they couldn’t,” these two factors supposedly “are what pushed the person over the edge.”
Another passenger, Michael Scigliano, added to the description of the scene. He mentioned that flight officials initially announced the issue as technical, which he found “even scarier” at the time. Scigliano expressed concern about the passenger’s state and location during the flight back, noting the man was “still in the back of the plane unprotected, unrestrained,” which felt particularly risky considering there was no air marshal and “a plane full of 300 people.”
Following the unexpected return to JFK, passengers were forced to spend the night at the airport. Their rebooked flights were scheduled for 11 a.m. the following day, approximately 16 hours after their original departure. American Airlines addressed the incident with a statement, saying, “American Airlines flight 198 with service from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) returned to JFK due to a disruptive passenger.” The airline added, “The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we thank our customers for their understanding.”
However, the experience didn’t end smoothly for all passengers. Michael Scigliano claimed American Airlines offered them “nothing” for their overnight stay. Krystie Tomlinson reportedly requested to use the American Airlines lounge to breastfeed her child and was told she would need to pay a $79 fee.
While unruly passengers represent one category of mid-flight disruption, another recent incident on a United flight offered a different, perhaps even more head-scratching, reason for an unexpected U-turn. A flight departing Los Angeles, California, bound for Shanghai, China, with 257 passengers and 13 crew members aboard on March 22, had to turn back after just two hours into its long journey over the Pacific Ocean.
The startling reason for this diversion? One of the pilots had forgotten his passport. A United spokesperson confirmed the Boeing 787-9 had to land at San Francisco International Airport because the pilot “did not have their passport onboard.” Flight tracking websites showed the plane turning back towards California.
Yang Shuhan, a passenger on the flight, recounted hearing the pilot make an announcement over the intercom, describing the pilot as “frustrated” as he announced he “forgot (his) passport.” Before landing in San Francisco, United made an onboard announcement to passengers, stating the flight diverted to SFO “due to an unexpected crew-related issue requiring a new crew,” notably omitting the detail about the missing passport.
The news of the pilot’s oversight understandably sparked reactions from those on board and online. An alleged passenger posted on the Chinese social networking platform Rednote, questioning, “How could someone mess up this badly at work?” On X, passenger Paramjot Singh Kalra expressed frustration, tweeting, “UA198 diverted to SFO because the pilot forgot his passport? Now stuck 6+ hours. Completely unacceptable. @united, what compensation are you offering for this total mishandling?”
United responded to Kalra on X, offering an apology for the “unexpected travel disruption” and directing him to their Agent On Demand team for assistance. Upon landing in San Francisco around 5 p.m., passengers were provided with $15 meal vouchers and what was described as “compensation.” A new crew was brought in, and the flight departed at 9 p.m., ultimately landing in Shanghai approximately six hours behind its original schedule.
This pilot oversight had a ripple effect, also impacting the return flight, UA199, from Shanghai to Los Angeles. A Shanghai-based business traveler reported their LA-bound flight was delayed for around six hours as well, forcing them to rebook a connection. This traveler, feeling “frustrated,” noted the delay meant they had to “reschedule all my plans for Monday, which is really inconvenient.”
Shukor Yusof, founder of Endau Analytics, an aviation advisory company, commented on the passport incident, calling it “embarrassing” and “unacceptable” for a major global airline like United. He added that it “shows a lack of discipline.” These recent events, spanning both disruptive passenger behavior and crew errors, highlight the unpredictable nature of air travel and the significant consequences that can arise when things don’t go according to plan, reminding us that even with the best preparations, airborne journeys can take surprising turns.
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