Two passengers disrupt an American Airlines flight to New York’s JFK airport. Before boarding the flight that was departing from São Paulo, Brazil, it had already been delayed. Things went downhill when passengers climbed into the plane.
Flight attendants intervened when a female passenger tried to storm the cockpit, shouting and demanding to know why the flight was delayed. This caused the crew to respond seriously and finally insisted that the plane return to the gate.
Attempt to Enter Cockpit
The woman tried to do it directly by confronting the pilots, reports say. She lunged towards the cockpit and tried to open the door. Video online includes flight attendants attempting to intervene. Then, one male crew member tackled her to the floor before she could enter the cockpit area.
When the woman began yelling and threatening the crew, that only made the situation even more tense. She shouted: You don’t know who you are talking to. ‘You’re going to get peed on!’ As flight attendants began to escort her off the front of the plane.
Second Passenger Joins the Drama
That was not the last of the disturbance. And somewhere in first class, a barefoot man also began shouting. In Portuguese, he yelled at the flight attendants for explaining. Things didn’t get any better, and he and the woman got into a heated shouting match.
Both tried to calm down, but the man still argued with the crew members. Eventually, both of the passengers on the flight were removed.
The woman had gone to the cockpit to ask about the delay, a person said. But her behavior accelerated, and she had to be dealt with under security procedures.
Return to Gate and Delays
Because of the disruption, the pilot made the decision to taxi the aircraft back to the gate. This caused further delays. All passengers had to wait while the two disruptive individuals were taken off the plane.
The flight, which was already behind schedule, ended up departing two hours and 25 minutes later than planned. American Airlines later released a statement, saying:
“The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority, and we thank everyone for their understanding.”
Past Incidents Raise Concerns
This is not the first time American Airlines has faced such onboard issues. Just weeks earlier, another passenger on a flight from New York to Milan also tried to enter the cockpit. That incident began over a disagreement about a meal and seating arrangements.
Witnesses say that the man became aggressive when he didn’t get his preferred meal and a seat in the exit row for his baby. The flight had to turn around and return to JFK Airport.
A fellow passenger said, “We were left with this crazy man in the plane, unprotected and unrestrained.” This recent case adds to growing concerns about passenger behavior and the safety of airline crew members.
Safety and Crew Action
In both cases, flight crews acted quickly and professionally. Their ability to manage difficult passengers likely prevented worse outcomes. Still, questions are being raised about whether more needs to be done to prevent these types of incidents.
Some experts have suggested bringing back air marshals on international flights, especially those that are long and heavily booked. Others are calling for better screening procedures before boarding.
Conclusion
A serious on-board disturbance is blamed for the American Airlines flight delay at JFK. It then saw a woman try to confront the pilots and enter the cockpit, and another passenger join in the madness. There was, thankfully, the ability for the crew members to bring the situation under control. The event is a reminder of how increasingly difficult it is to manage the passengers’ behavior today in the skies. However, airlines can only focus on safety and security, as this kind of case may increase.
