On a United Airlines flight bound for Newark from Miami, an aggressive passenger was filmed biting a flight attendant, leading to an unexpected diversion to Orlando.
The incident on United Flight 762, which departed from Miami International Airport on Tuesday evening. The chaos began when a female passenger became unruly, prompting the flight crew to intervene to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of other passengers.
According to United Airlines’ statement to The Independent, the passenger’s disruptive behaviour forced the flight attendants to act to protect everyone on board. Cellphone footage released by TMZ shows the woman screaming, using profanity, and physically resisting as crew members tried to restrain her in the aisle.
In the video, flight attendants are seen trying to secure the woman with zip ties, during which she attempts to bite a crew member’s shirt. She is heard shouting, “Let go of me; I’m a f girl. What are you gonna do, kill me?” and accuses the flight attendants of not doing their jobs while being handcuffed.
The footage also captures her yelling profanities and making threats towards someone off-camera. The situation culminated with police officers boarding the aircraft and removing the woman to the applause of other passengers.
Following the incident, United Airlines confirmed that the flight was diverted to Orlando, where law enforcement awaited. The Orlando Police Department reported that the woman was taken to a local hospital for a medical assessment and had not been arrested as of Wednesday.
The flight was delayed for three and a half hours as a new crew was organized in Orlando. The underlying cause of the woman’s aggressive behaviour during the flight has not been disclosed.