According to Delta Airlines and law authorities, a man was detained after allegedly exhibiting “unruly and unlawful behavior toward other customers” that led an aircraft to return to Houston shortly after takeoff.
The flight departing from William P. Hobby Airport was headed to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
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“The safety of our customers and crew is paramount, and Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior. We apologize to our customers for this experience and delay in their travels,” Delta said in a statement on Wednesday.
After taking off, it landed at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston around 5:40 a.m. local time, according to the FAA. The flight lasted barely approximately 15 minutes.
A passenger on the flight told ABC News Atlanta affiliate WSB that the rowdy man “started punching everybody” before being removed from the plane.
“Prior to that, he attempted to enter the cockpit.” He was saying he wanted to speak with the pilot,” Amber Ward explained. “I just wanted to make sure I got it on film, because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Amber Ward, the passenger, told WSB.
The man eventually attacked a fellow seated 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 recordings suggested the man was attempting to breach the cockpit of a Delta Airlines flight, but Delta claimed he “did not make contact with or attempt to access the flight deck,” according to an ABC News statement.
At around 5:35 a.m., the Houston Police Department received a call indicating that “apparently an individual attempted to gain entry into a cockpit.” Police officers were called to Gate 32 at the airport, where many police cars encircled the plane, 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 “He assaulted another passenger,” whom the pilot stated they wanted checked out.
ABC News investigated and authenticated video showing a passenger with bound hands being brought off Delta flight 2557 in Houston on Wednesday morning.
The FAA stated that the flight “returned safely” to Hobby “after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. “The FAA plans to examine the incident.
The plane carried 85 passengers and five crew. Delta said that the flight re-departed and arrived in Atlanta around 90 minutes later than scheduled.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
