A recent Delta Air Lines transpacific flight diverted to Alaska after a passenger and flight attendant got into an argument during a bathroom visit, as flagged by PYOK. Oy, it’s amazing how things can escalate unnecessarily.
The flight took off a little after 5PM local time, basically right on schedule, and climbed up to 36,000 feet, starting its journey to the northwest. Everything was normal for the first couple of hours, until after the first meal service. That’s when things went sideways, and a very heated argument started between a passenger and a flight attendant.
According to the affidavit filed by the FBI in Alaska, here’s what transpired:
During the verbal altercation, [passenger] made racial slurs and [flight attendant] made antagonizing comments back to [passenger] in response. Additionally, during the verbal altercation [passenger] threatened to fight and kick [flight attendant]’s “a**” once the plane landed. Finally, [passenger] at some point “swung” at the flight attendant. However, no one was physically struck or touched during the altercation. [passenger] had several alcoholic drinks during the flight and was described by witness passengers as an “a******” before boarding the plane.
[flight attendant] turned back to continue eating his meal. [passenger] made several additionally disrespectful comments. The bathroom became available at some point and [passenger] entered. After several minutes in the bathroom [passenger] exited and again made disrespectful comments towards [flight attendant]. [flight attendant] did not like how [passenger] was speaking to him and responded in a similarly disrespectful manner to [passenger].
A heated verbal argument ensued in which [passenger] called [flight attendant] a “n*****,” stated [flight attendant] was only treating [passenger] that way because [passenger] was white, and made several threats to kick [flight attendant]’s “ass” once the plane landed.
The verbal altercation apparently became so bad that several passengers moved to the galley to attempt to deescalate the conflict. Furthermore, the situation became so heated that the disturbance was approached as a level three threat, so restraints were retrieved (though never used), and access to the cockpit had to be blocked, while the pilots worked on initiating a diversion.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
