A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Minneapolis was diverted to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday night so authorities could remove an unruly passenger, officials said.
The plane touched down at Dane County Regional Airport around 9:10 p.m. local time. Law enforcement on the flight restrained the passenger quickly, according to Carrie Springer, a spokeswoman for the Dane County Regional Airport. Deputies with the Dane County Sheriff's Office were waiting at the gate when the plane landed and removed the individual, Springer said. Federal authorities are handling the investigation, she said.
"United flight 2005 from Chicago to Minneapolis landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin, to address a security concern with an unruly passenger," a United Airlines spokesperson wrote in an email to NTD News. The Boeing 737-900 was carrying 147 passengers and six crew members at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.
After the disruption was resolved, the flight eventually continued on to its original destination. The plane landed in Minneapolis early on Saturday morning.
The latest incident follows other recent onboard incidents involving United Airlines flights in recent weeks.
In air traffic control audio recordings, the pilot said the passenger had allegedly tried to open "door 2L at 36,000 feet and then assaulted a fellow passenger," adding that he was not aware of any injuries at the time. A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed to NTD News that the Boeing 737 MAX 8—which was carrying 145 passengers and six crew members—landed safely at Dulles, where it "was met by law enforcement to address an unruly passenger." The flight was canceled, and United arranged a replacement flight the following morning while providing overnight accommodations for passengers.
Earlier in the month, on May 2, a male passenger aboard United Flight 1837—traveling from the Dominican Republic to Newark Liberty International Airport—allegedly attacked a flight attendant and attempted to breach the flight deck as the plane approached landing. The FAA confirmed the crew had reported a passenger disturbance.