A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Minneapolis was diverted to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday after a passenger made multiple attempts to break into the cockpit, according to air traffic control audio and a statement from the FBI.
The flight departed Chicago O’Hare International Airport at approximately 8 p.m. CDT and landed at Dane County Regional Airport roughly 90 minutes later. United Airlines confirmed the aircraft “landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin to address a security concern with an unruly passenger.”
Air traffic control audio from Dane County Regional Airport, reviewed by local broadcaster WISN, captured a crew member describing the situation as it unfolded. “I do not believe they ever cuffed him, but they were able to finally get control of him after multiple attempts to try to breach the cockpit,” the crew member said. “I believe at this point he is seated in a seat and flanked with law enforcement officers on either side.”
Five off-duty law enforcement officers who happened to be aboard the aircraft helped detain the passenger before the plane landed.
Authorities removed the passenger from the flight at approximately 10:30 p.m. CDT. At one point during the incident, a sheriff’s office employee requested a Russian-language translator, asking over radio: “On the odd chance, would there be anyone for Russian translation?”
The FBI confirmed it was notified of the diversion and dispatched agents to the scene. “FBI Milwaukee’s Madison Resident Agency and local law enforcement partners responded immediately,” the bureau said in a statement. “A subject was detained by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and afterwards passengers resumed their flight.”
The incident occurred on 29 May 2026 and is the latest in a series of security disruptions on US domestic flights. In recent months, unruly passenger incidents have prompted emergency diversions on multiple carriers, drawing renewed attention to in-flight security protocols and crew authority over disruptive travellers.
Federal regulations prohibit any interference with flight crew members or attempts to enter the cockpit. Violators can face federal criminal charges, which carry significant prison sentences. The FBI has jurisdiction over crimes committed aboard commercial aircraft in the United States.
United Airlines did not provide further details about the passenger’s identity or the charges they may face. The FBI statement did not name the individual or specify whether a formal arrest had been made at the time of publication.
The remaining passengers continued to Minneapolis after the disruption was resolved, according to sheriff’s office communications.
