A United Airlines flight from Miami to Newark was forced to make an emergency stop in Orlando on Tuesday evening.
The reason? A passenger’s violent outburst that included biting a flight attendant.
This incident, captured on video and shared by TMZ, shows just how unpredictable air travel has become in recent years.
The footage depicts a woman, already restrained with zip-ties, attacking a crew member and unleashing a string of profanities and threats.
United Airlines confirmed the event in a statement to FOX Business:
“United Flight 762 from Miami to Newark stopped in Orlando on Tuesday evening after a passenger became aggressive and disruptive.”
United Airlines Flight 762 operated by a Boeing 737-924(ER) aircraft (N68823) from Miami to Newark, New Jersey diverts to Orlando (MCO), Florida after an aggressive passenger reportedly bites a flight attendant, then threatens other passengers.
The violent passenger screamed at… pic.twitter.com/aeqLUlgK5D
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) July 11, 2024
The airline praised its staff for their handling of the situation, but the fact that flight crews now routinely face such challenges is concerning.
It’s a far cry from the days when air travel was seen as a peaceful, even luxurious experience.
The disruptive passenger’s rant, caught on camera, included warnings to others not to fly United, accusations against the airline staff, and even death threats to fellow passengers.
It’s behavior that would have been unthinkable on a commercial flight not too long ago.
This event caused significant delays for other travelers.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware shows the plane was grounded in Orlando for about two hours before continuing to Newark.
The Orlando Police Department reported that the woman was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
This incident is not isolated.
Airlines and their staff have reported an uptick in unruly passenger behavior in recent years.
It’s a trend that’s forcing the industry to adapt, often at the expense of the comfortable, efficient travel experience most passengers expect.
On July 9, #UnitedAirlines Boeing 737-924 (N68823) flight #UA762 from #Miami to #Newark was forced to divert to #Orlando after an aggressive passenger was biting a flight attendant and threatened passengers while she was spitting on them.
🎥 via @fl360aero#US #aviation #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/ZMjGZHchZa
— FlightMode (@FlightModeblog) July 11, 2024
What do incidents like these say about our society at large?
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The erosion of civility in public spaces is not limited to air travel, but it’s perhaps most visible there due to the confined environment and high-stakes nature of flight.
