An incident involving an unruly passenger forced an American Airlines flight bound for Milan to return to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The disruption occurred hours into the flight, leaving passengers shaken by the frightening experience.
American Airlines Flight 198 departed from JFK around 7 p.m. on Monday, but approximately four hours into the journey, the pilot informed passengers that a disruptive individual among the 300 passengers onboard was causing chaos, as reported by CBS News.
The male passenger became agitated when he did not receive his preferred meal and was seated in an exit row with a baby, leading to a disturbance that caught the attention of other passengers. Witness Krystie Tomlinson described the man charging at flight attendants, prompting a call for assistance from any police officers or military personnel on board.
The situation escalated further when the passenger reportedly attempted to breach the cockpit after charging through the aisles, causing alarm among those on the flight.
Following the incident, the plane landed back in New York around 3 a.m., and passengers had to wait onboard while authorities escorted the disruptive passenger off the aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the disruptive episode to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on future flights.
