United Airlines flight from Chicago to Minneapolis made emergency landing due to aggressive passenger
A passenger who was allegedly "insulting in Russian" attempted to force his way into the cabin, causing fear in the aircraft
A Minneapolis-bound plane was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger allegedly tried to enter the cabin.
On Friday, May 29, United Airlines flight UA2005 bound for Minneapolis was diverted to Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) in Madison, Wisconsin, due to a “disruptive passenger,” the airline confirmed to People.
The flight had taken off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport at 8 p.m. local time on what was supposed to be a routine two-hour flight, WMTV and WTVM reported.
An unidentified male passenger, who was allegedly “insulting in Russian,” attempted to force his way into the cabin, causing a struggle on board, according to the cited media.
The pilot allegedly used transponder code 7500 during the incident, the air traffic control signal that indicates a plane hijacking.
The Dane County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) removed the passenger from the plane and detained him. According to United Airlines, there were 147 passengers and six crew members on board the plane. No one was injured in the incident.
According to FlightRadar24, the 7500 transponder code signal allows pilots to discreetly contact Air Traffic Control.
"What happens after this code is transmitted varies, but usually security forces are involved. The process, shown in movies and television series, involves an escort by military aircraft and authorities may be waiting upon arrival," the website states.
Federal authorities are investigating the incident, according to WMTV. The Dane Air Traffic Control Agency (DCRA) continued normal operations following the passenger's detention.