An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight traveling from Tokyo Narita International Airport to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport had to make an unscheduled landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on 24 May when a passenger tried to open an emergency exit door mid-flight over the Pacific Ocean. This was widely reported by various news agencies.
The crew, with assistance from two military-trained passengers, restrained the passenger, who was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation after landing, the FBI said.
Following the restraint, the individual was secured with zip ties and closely monitored for the remainder of the flight. No injuries were reported among the remaining passengers and flight crew.
Upon arrival in Seattle, a second passenger became unruly while on the tarmac in Seattle. The person was frustrated at the flight diversion and punched the bathroom door. The person was deplaned for unruly behaviour.
Seattle police intervened promptly, removing both the original restrained passenger and the second individual. The first passenger was transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Officials later indicated that the attempt to open the emergency exit was likely linked to a medical episode rather than deliberate misconduct.
No charges were filed immediately, as investigations and health assessments continued. The flight continued to Houston and landed without incident.
Similar incidents
This is the latest in a string of similar incidents, reported BBC News.
In April, a Jetstar flight from Bali, Indonesia was forced to turn around during its journey to Melbourne, Australia, after a passenger similarly tried to open a plane door in the air.
Last November, a man who tried to open the plane door during an American Airlines flight was restrained and tied up by fellow passengers with duct tape.
And in 2023, nine passengers of an Asiana Airlines flight were sent to hospital with breathing difficulties after a man successfully opened the aircraft’s emergency exit door prior to it landing at a South Korean airport.
In-flight disturbances have surged
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a zero-tolerance policy for unruly passenger behavior, which surged to a record high in 2021, with nearly 6,000 reported incidents. Reports have declined significantly since then, but 2023 still saw more than 2,000 incidents, FAA figures show. In 2023, more than 400 enforcement actions were initiated and $7.5 million in fines were levied against such passengers.
Aviation experts explain that doors on commercial airplanes cannot be opened during flight due to the pressure difference between the pressurised cabin and the outside atmosphere. The higher pressure inside the cabin creates a force that firmly seals doors and emergency exits throughout the flight.
As of May 18, there have been 597 reports of unruly passengers in 2025 according to the FAA.
