United Airlines Flight 2005 was headed from Chicago to Minneapolis when a passenger’s behavior required the aircraft to divert to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday night.
The flight crew reported that the passenger became unruly and was restrained before the aircraft landed safely at the Dane County Regional Airport. Deputies from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office boarded the plane and removed the passenger, who was then pre‑handcuffed and taken off the aircraft.
Federal authorities are investigating the incident. Air traffic control audio shows a crew member telling controllers that the situation “took some time,” but that law enforcement officers on board had subdued the passenger.
The Boeing 737 carried 147 passengers and six crew members. No injuries were reported. One passenger, Mike Rundle, said the man appeared to be in his 70s and was confused. He described how, when the plane was on the runway in Chicago, the passenger stood up, was told to sit down, and asked if anyone on board spoke Russian. Later, a group of men led the passenger back to his seat and maintained control.
Rundle added that the flight crew handled everything calmly and that the rest of the flight proceeded smoothly, landing in Minneapolis early Saturday morning.
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