United Airlines Flight 1551, bound for Guatemala City, made an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport on Thursday night after an unruly passenger caused a mid-air disturbance.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 departed from Newark Liberty International Airport with 145 passengers and six crew members.
>>> Sulli's Brother Warns Kim Soo Hyun Amid Actor's Potential Return
The incident occurred at an altitude of 36,000 feet.
According to air traffic control audio, the pilot reported that a passenger attempted to open the aircraft door and then assaulted another traveler.
Law enforcement officers met the plane upon arrival and removed the individual. No injuries were reported.
The airline canceled the remainder of the flight. United provided stranded passengers with overnight accommodations and scheduled a replacement flight for Friday morning.
FAA Confirms Diversion
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the diversion. "United Airlines Flight 1551 landed safely at Washington Dulles International Airport around 8:30 p.
>>> Byron Allen Leases CBS Late-Night Slot for 'Comics Unleashed'
m. local time on Thursday, May 21, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance," the FAA stated.
The agency noted that airlines have reported 600 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.
Legal consequences can include criminal charges and civil penalties up to $43,658 per violation.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was contacted for further details.
>>> Female Canines Win Top Honors at Cannes Palm Dog Awards
This incident marks the second major unruly passenger event for United Airlines this month, following a separate occurrence where a passenger assaulted a flight attendant and attempted to enter the cockpit during a landing at Newark.
