Boeing 787-9 Forced to Divert to Seattle Due to an Unruly Passenger

An All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Houston was diverted to Seattle early on May 24 after a passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door midflight. The flight, ANA 114, departed Tokyo Haneda Airport at 10:33 AM local time and was en route to George Bush Intercontinental Airport when the incident occurred.

The male passenger reportedly tried to open an emergency door several hours into the flight. He was restrained by cabin crew and fellow passengers, and the crew decided to divert the flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a safety precaution. The aircraft landed at approximately 4:19 AM local time.

Upon arrival in Seattle, local police boarded the aircraft. Officials later confirmed that the passenger was experiencing a medical emergency and was transported to a hospital for evaluation. No injuries were reported among the other passengers or crew members.

The flight resumed its journey to Houston later that morning. Aside from the somewhat unsettling diversion, the rest of the flight proceeded normally. Passengers were able to continue on to their destination with only a delay of a few hours.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner used for this flight maintained an average cruising altitude of 31,000 feet and speeds around 560 miles per hour during the trans-Pacific leg of the journey. According to flight tracking data, it covered approximately 5,600 miles from Tokyo to Houston.

Officials from both Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and ANA have maintained radio silence so far, leaving it unclear what led to the passenger’s behavior or whether charges will be filed.

In-flight disturbances involving so-called ‘unruly’ passengers have become a growing concern for airlines and regulators. Incidents like this typically involve multiple agencies, including the TSA and, in some cases, the FBI. In this instance, local authorities handled the matter on the ground after federal officials declined to take jurisdiction.

FMI: www.ana.co.jp