Unscheduled Stop Caused by Passenger’s Outrage Over Meal

A United Airlines flight had to divert just two hours into what should have been a 9.5-hour journey on Sunday due to an enraged business-class passenger. The passenger, who had paid around $7,000 for the upgraded seat, caused a commotion after being informed that their preferred meal choice was unavailable. According to the Guardian, the plane, which took off from Houston and was headed to Amsterdam, started circling O’Hare International Airport in Chicago approximately two hours into the flight. Eventually, the plane had to release fuel to reduce its weight before making a safe landing.

An aviation insider on Twitter shared internal communication from United Airlines, which indicated a “threat level 1” due to a disruptive passenger on the flight. The passenger in seat 11G was noted to be intoxicated, and the issue seemed to escalate due to meal choices, as reported by @XJonNYC and the Houston Chronicle. United Airlines later confirmed that the flight was diverted to O’Hare International Airport and safely landed after addressing the passenger disturbance. Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and escorted the passenger off the plane. The flight then continued to Amsterdam, experiencing a delay of approximately three hours. (Read more unruly passenger stories.)