In Houston, authorities detained a man after he allegedly displayed disruptive and illegal conduct toward fellow passengers, prompting a flight to return shortly after takeoff. This incident was confirmed by Delta Airlines and local law enforcement.
The flight had departed from William P. Hobby Airport with a destination of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Ensuring the safety of our customers and crew is our top priority, and Delta maintains a strict policy against unruly behavior. We regret the inconvenience and delay this caused to our passengers,” Delta stated on Wednesday.
Shortly after departure, the aircraft made an emergency landing back at William P. Hobby Airport around 5:40 a.m. local time. The plane had been airborne for only about 15 minutes, as reported by the FAA.
A witness on the flight shared with ABC News’ Atlanta affiliate WSB that the disruptive passenger began “punching everybody” before being escorted off the plane.
Amber Ward, another passenger, recounted, “He attempted to reach the cockpit, claiming he wanted to speak with the pilot. I decided to record the event, uncertain of what might unfold,” she told WSB.
Eventually, the man attacked a person sitting in a window seat, “yanking him by his shirt, his hair,” according to Ward.
“It took like eight guys on the plane to get him off of that guy, and they had to sit on him, and we had to turn the plane around and go back.”
Earlier reports and air traffic controller audio alleged the man was attempting to breach the cockpit of a Delta Airlines flight but Delta said he “did not make contact with or attempt to access the flight deck,” in a statement to ABC News.
A call reporting that “apparently an individual tried to gain entry into a cockpit” was made at around 5:35 a.m., according to the Houston Police Department. Police officers were dispatched to Gate 32 at the airport, where multiple police cars surrounded the aircraft, according to KTRK.
On air traffic controller audio, one of the pilots can be heard telling controllers, “we had a passenger get up and try to access the cockpit,” and that “he assaulted another passenger,” who the pilot said they wanted to get checked out.
Video reviewed and verified by ABC News shows a passenger whose hands are bound being escorted off a Delta flight 2557 on Wednesday morning in Houston.
The FAA said the flight “returned safely” to Hobby “after the crew reported a passenger disturbance.” The FAA said it will investigate the incident.
There were 85 passengers and five crew on board the plane. The flight re-departed and arrived in Atlanta, about 90 minutes behind schedule, Delta said.
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