On Saturday, January 23, a passenger aboard a United Airlines (UA) Flight 223, from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Las Vegas (LAS) attempted to open an exit door while the aircraft was at cruising altitude. The pilot diverted to Denver (DEN), where the aircraft landed safely and the man was taken into custody by airport security. United Airlines spokesman Charlie Hobart said that the disturbance began about 4:45 p.m.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320, carrying 129 passengers and a crew of 5, left Washington at 3:30 p.m. EST, over 3 hours behind schedule. This may have allowed the unruly passenger additional time to consume alcohol at the airport, while waiting for his flight. He was also served additional drinks onboard the aircraft.
For safety reasons, it is virtually impossible to open any aircraft exit door while in flight. In fact, after a flight landed and coupled with a docking skyway at a gate, the San Diego Airport Examiner has personally witnessed a cabin crew's failed efforts to open a main exit hatch, eventually requiring setting off small explosive charges to release the door's locking bolts.
CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) Airbus A320 emergency exit card showing 6 exit doors (Photo Credit - Google Images); (BELOW RIGHT) Airbus A320 at unknown location (Photo Credit - Google Images); (BELOW LEFT) United Airlines Airbus A320-232 at San Francisco (Photo Credit - Dmitriy Shapiro)
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While there was no immediate danger to the United passengers or aircraft, it is a felony to interfere with a flight crew, according to FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright.
After questioning at Denver International Airport the suspect was sent for a medical evaluation. No charges have yet been filed against him.
United Airlines has a major presence at San Diego International Airport, where it operates about 20 departures each day from Terminal 1 to such cities as Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Tell us if you've ever encountered unruly passengers during a flight. Please leave comments below or by email and subscribe to get future updates.
Comments
No, I've never encountered an unruly passenger on a flight, but it seems there is a real "run" on them these days. I hope the statistics of my rather sedate travel experiences aboard a plane don't change next time I'm aloft!
Holy moley and jeez Louise, did he think it was the bathroom or something? We had to turn back shortly after leaving SF for Kauai once to return a passenger who appeared to have had too much fun the night before. He may have just been ill. They didn't go into details.
My daughter is a flight attendant so I bet she could fill the screen with unusual events in the air. However, I doubt if she would ever do that as professional as she is at work. This is an expecially well written summary of the events that I learned from you here. TX for your great work in reporting this incident.
Hello Joel,
nice report, but the reaction of this crew is out of proportion.
There is absolutely no need to make a diversion for that.
As an airline captain I get reports about unruly passengers. First we warn them, if that does not help we can handcuff them (if need arises with some help of passengers) and we continue to our destination. Normally a (strong) warning is sufficient though.
Next to that, during cruise there is absolutely no reason for panic: the door cannot be opened....
Great, now I really don't want to fly this weekend.
Maybe he wanted to bungee jump.
Regarding a comment by Martin L. below, thank you Martin very much for taking the time to comment. I knew that a commercial airline pilot with many years of experience, as you certainly have, would possess the best understanding of this issue. There have been many of our domestic flights which have diverted recently because of relatively minor incidents in the cabin. It seems to me, as you point out, like it is out of proportion to the threat, or more simply stated, an over reaction. There's nothing new about passengers having too much to drink, and behaving badly. What is new, is the heavy handed way that these incidents have been handled.
Thank you again Martin for your comments. It is always an honor having a seasoned pilot who has flown for a number of international carriers, read and remark on my articles.
Whoa. It is very alarming.
A new twist on crazy passenger behavior. Yikes!!!
Everybody's jumpy these days. Passengers are nuts, flight crews or someone above them is obviously over-reacting. I like MartinL's comment about handcuffing them to the seat. Sounds like a plan unless they were so disruptive that they needed to be gagged.
Nut jobs! Hence one of the reasons I try and avoid flying commercial!!!
i'm so glad people are more proactive now and will stop this kind of nonsense before it becomes a crisis. great reporting, joel.
They multiply fast at the funny farm, apparently. Interesting read, Joel
Cheers...
Ah, yet another nut....unreal.
Posted as a comment 6 days ago on Linkedin Aviation/Link:
Joel, unless the aircraft is unpressurized, it is very improbable that a passenger could actually open a door in flight. Most airliners pressurize to about 8 psi. If you figure the total area (size) of the door and multiple by the pressure differential, you can easily see how large a force would be needed to open the door.
Chris Kirk Aviation Sales Advisor | Business & Personal Aircraft | President - WildBlue, LLC
maybe he just wanted to step outside for a smoke?
I used to travel for a living and I think I know this guy. Man there are some nuts out there travel and unfortunately, alcohol makes them nuttier. I was just on a flight from Toronto a couple of weeks ago where there was a drunk guy that wouldn't stay in his seat. He stood up right before takeoff and when the pilot lifted off, he went rolling to the back of the airplane battered and bruised. He was busted up and so were some other passengers that he fell into on his way to the back. Luckily he passed out without additional problems. What a nutcase.
Concerning a comment by Chris Kirk below:
Hi Chris,
Thank you so much for the comment. I've heard the same assurances from commercial airline pilots. One aviator who flies for a European carrier even thought that it was pointless to divert, and cause delays and inconvenience to all the other passengers, rather than issue a warning and if necessary place the disruptive passenger in restraints.
Personally, while it gives me lots of material to cover, it does seem to me like an overreaction.
I appreciate you reading my articles, and taking the time to comment on them.
Cheers,
Joel
Comment originally posted 2 days ago in Linkedin AviationLink Group:
Joel:
I really like your articles and yes it is nearly impossible to open a plug type emergency exit on a pressurized airplane in flight. However,I am not sure I'd call that an overreaction. In this day and age we can't take any chances with disruptive passengers. This was a simple drunk causing the problem but who is to say it wouldn't turn into more than that. Perhaps it was a distraction for a bigger plot??? The crew reacted in my opinion the correct way. Worry about the inconvenience to the passengers later. The possibility that a situation could turn more serious outweighs any inconvenience IMHO..
Keep up the great articles....
Alex McAninch Search Engine Optimization expert and social media consultant at Morris MC ltd. Aviation Professional and Contract Pilot
Comment originally posted 1 days ago in Linkedin AviationLink Group:
Current policy: If someone tries to act up in flight, clobber him ASAP.
Randall Stephens CEO, ADBIRDS Design & Market Inc.
Comment originally posted 23 hours ago in Linkedin AviationLink Group:
I like that idea..... The SOP's for flight crews should read exactly that.
Alex McAninch Search Engine Optimization expert and social media consultant at Morris MC ltd. Aviation Professional and Contract Pilot
Comment originally posted 8 hours ago in Linkedin AviationLink Group
I agree that diversion is not over-reaction. Easy to say "Oh, he was just drunk, strap him into his seat and lets keep going." But, what if he wasn't drunk? Also, someone will have to keep checking on him, diverting crew attention. And, - do YOU want to sit next to him for the remainder of the flight?
Bernard J. Wilson Police Chief (Ret'd.), Consultant in Public Safety, Homeland Security, Crisis Strategies, Organizational Development
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