Lava Lovo

Passenger Loses It, Tries to Open Plane Door

As the regional jet cruised from Omaha toward Detroit on July 17, tension erupted––a 23‑year‑old passenger suddenly assaulted a flight attendant and, in a terrifying moment, tried to open the emergency exit door while still at altitude. The pilot’s calm but urgent radio call to Eastern Iowa Airport captured the drama: “He’s in a fight with our flight attendant right now, trying to open the emergency exit.” Within minutes, the crew and a few brave passengers subdued the man, and the aircraft diverted to Cedar Rapids, landing safely. Police were waiting on the tarmac, arrested the suspect, and today he faces federal charges including interference with flight crew. SkyWest Airlines, operating the flight as Delta Connection, reiterated its zero‑tolerance policy toward unruly behavior, stressing safety for all aboard. Despite the alarm, no one was hurt, and after the disturbance was resolved, the flight continued to Detroit with a delayed arrival late Thursday night.