United Airlines Flight Diverts After Unruly Passenger Bites Crew Member

On Tuesday night, a United Airlines flight from Miami to Newark Liberty International Airport was diverted to Orlando International Airport after a passenger became unruly and bit a flight attendant. The incident occurred after the passenger became aggravated during the flight.

Recently, incidents involving unruly passengers have decreased significantly following a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this week, a passenger on a United Airlines flight departing Miami caused a disruption. The flight, operated by a Boeing 737-900ER, was forced to land in Orlando due to the incident.

According to Fox35, the passenger was screaming while crew members tried to restrain her. During the restraint attempt, the passenger bit one of the flight attendants and was seen spitting on a fellow passenger. Upon landing in Orlando, authorities met the plane and escorted the passenger off. The Orlando Police Department reported that the passenger was taken to a local hospital for evaluation but was not arrested.

A United Airlines spokesperson expressed gratitude for the crew's professionalism, stating, "Our flight attendants worked to de-escalate the situation and protect other customers. After landing in Orlando, law enforcement met the flight, and the passenger was removed. We’re grateful to our team for their professionalism and for looking out for the safety of our customers and their fellow United employees."

This incident highlights ongoing challenges airlines face with disruptive passengers, despite an overall decline in such events.