A Delta Air Lines flight from Omaha to Detroit was diverted to Cedar Rapids following a mid-air disturbance involving an unruly passenger.
A 23-year-old man was taken into custody by Cedar Rapids police at the Eastern Iowa Airport shortly after 6 p.m., after allegedly attempting to open the aircraft’s emergency exit door during the flight.
According to fellow passengers, the individual had also engaged in a physical altercation with a flight attendant.
The CRJ-900LR aircraft, registration N824SK, diverted to Cedar Rapids only 45 minutes after takeoff from Omaha.
Authorities confirmed the man was unsuccessful in opening the door, and the aircraft landed safely in Cedar Rapids. He was removed from the plane by law enforcement and now faces multiple charges, including disorderly conduct, assault, unlawful possession of prescription medication, a tax stamp violation, and harassment.
In a statement, the airline operating the flight, SkyWest, emphasized its strict stance: “SkyWest has zero tolerance for unruly behavior as safety for our customers and crew is our top priority.”
Following the incident, the flight resumed its journey and departed before 8:30 p.m..
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