A Chicago-to-Minneapolis flight was rerouted to Wisconsin after an unruly passenger repeatedly tried to enter the cockpit. No injuries were reported.
8:05 PM
A United Airlines flight bound for Minneapolis from Chicago was diverted Friday night after a passenger repeatedly attempted to breach the cockpit, prompting an emergency landing in Wisconsin.
The aircraft, United flight 2005, landed safely at Dane County Regional Airport near Madison at approximately 9:30 p.m. after the disruptive passenger made multiple attempts to enter the flight deck following takeoff from Chicago.
According to audio transmissions obtained by 12 News Investigates, crew members reported that law enforcement was able to restrain the individual after several attempts to breach the cockpit area. "Don't think they were able to cuff him but were able to get control of him after multiple attempts to try to breach the cockpit," an official said in the audio. The passenger was then seated under close supervision with law enforcement officers positioned on both sides.
The 75-year-old passenger was detained and removed from the aircraft by deputies from the Dane County Sheriff's Office. The FBI in Milwaukee and local police responded to reports of the security concern. A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed the flight "landed safely in Madison … to address a security concern with an unruly passenger."
The aircraft carried 147 passengers and six crew members. After the passenger was taken into custody, the flight continued its journey to Minneapolis, landing early Saturday morning according to FlightAware data. No injuries were reported among those onboard.
The Dane County sheriff's office indicated the passenger appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
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