A United Airlines flight was diverted after two intoxicated passengers “became disruptive.”
Flight UA883, en route from London to New Jersey, was redirected to Maine due to disruptive passengers on board. Originally departing Heathrow on Friday morning for its New Jersey destination, the flight ultimately landed at Bangor International Airport in Maine.
In a statement, United Airlines said that the police removed the two intoxicated passengers after landing. And also, the customers are banned to avail of United flights in the future.
Sharp Detour
The flight was on a seven-hour journey across the Atlantic when it made a sharp detour south-east. The airline said, “United flight 883 landed in Bangor this morning after two passengers, who appeared intoxicated, became disruptive.”
The statement added, “Law enforcement officials removed the two passengers and the flight has already re-departed for Newark Liberty International Airport. The customers will be banned from future United flights while we review this matter.”
The flight had 150 passengers and 10 crew members. It left London at 7:52 GMT and landed in Maine at 10:00 in the morning local time.
Intoxicated Passengers
The incident was described as a “passenger disturbance.” According to the Bangor Police Department, their officers received assistance from the Customs and Border Protection and the FBI. Both the FBI and the Customs and Border Protection are now investigating.
One of the intoxicated passengers was detained after consultation with federal prosecutors. However, the FBI stated that the incident doesn’t involve terrorism. The FBI spokesperson said, “This incident has no nexus to terrorism.” The FBI added, “Due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation, no further details can be provided at this time.”
Disruptive Passengers
While the number of unruly passengers has decreased in recent years, the numbers remain high. The FAA recorded a total of 2,075 cases of unruly passengers in 2023. This year, the agency has already received a total of 286 reports of unruly passengers as of February 25.
