At a Glance
- A disruptive passenger on United 1129 forced an unscheduled landing in Chicago on Jan. 19
- The Boeing 737 Max 9 had left Washington Dulles for San Francisco with 130 passengers and six crew
- All travelers were rebooked on a later flight that reached San Francisco at 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 20
- Why it matters: The incident highlights how a single unruly traveler can upend travel plans for more than 100 others
A United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 bound for San Francisco had to divert to Chicago after a passenger became disruptive mid-flight on Monday, Jan. 19, delaying 130 passengers and six crew members.
The Diversion
Flight 1129 departed Washington Dulles around 7:40 p.m. local time, according to FlightAware data. Roughly two hours later, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the aircraft touched down at Chicago O’Hare International Airport so law enforcement could meet the plane.
Once on the ground, officers boarded and removed the unruly traveler.
“Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate in Chicago and the passenger was removed,” a United spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles in a statement.
Rebooking and Arrival
After the passenger was taken off, United rebooked every affected customer on a replacement flight. That aircraft landed in San Francisco at about 5:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The carrier did not specify the exact nature of the passenger’s behavior, only describing it as “disruptive.”
FBI Involvement
The FBI’s Chicago Field Office confirmed its agents responded to the gate and coordinated with local police. News Of Los Angeles reached out to the Chicago Police Department but had not received an immediate reply.
Second United Incident in Two Days
The diversion came one day after another United aircraft experienced a hard landing in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 18. That flight touched down at Orlando International Airport around 12:30 p.m. and lost a nose wheel upon impact, video reviewed by News Of Los Angeles shows.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft “became disabled after making a hard landing,” prompting a brief ground stop. United blamed a “mechanical issue upon landing,” and reported no injuries among the 200 passengers and six crew members on board.
Key Takeaways
- One disruptive traveler can force costly diversions, affecting dozens of connecting itineraries
- United rebooked all 130 passengers within hours, minimizing downstream delays
- The FBI routinely responds to in-flight disturbances, underscoring federal jurisdiction once an aircraft diverts
