A Tokyo Houston flight operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) was forced to divert to Seattle after a passenger attempted to open two exit doors mid-flight, officials confirmed. The incident occurred aboard Flight 114, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which had departed from Haneda Airport in Japan en route to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Texas.
The aircraft had been airborne for approximately 10 hours when it made an emergency landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport around 4 a.m. local time on Saturday. According to the FBI and Port of Seattle spokesperson Chris Guizlo, the passenger was subdued by the crew and fellow travelers before being taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among other passengers or crew members.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) described the situation as a “passenger disturbance,” while the airline cited “unruly passenger behavior” as the reason for the diversion.
Second Disruption on the Tarmac
While the aircraft was still on the ground in Seattle, a second passenger caused a separate disruption, frustrated by the unexpected diversion. According to the FBI, this individual punched a bathroom door while waiting for the Tokyo Houston flight to resume. The disruptive passenger was removed from the aircraft before it continued its journey to Houston.
“This was unrelated to the earlier incident,” said Guizlo, who confirmed that the second person was deplaned without further issues. No charges have been filed related to either case, and the original passenger who attempted to open the doors remains under medical evaluation. The flight resumed after the disturbances were handled and landed safely in Houston just before 1 p.m. local time, according to ANA and flight tracking data from FlightAware.
Spike in In-Flight Disturbances Raises Concerns
The ANA incident adds to a growing list of mid-air disruptions that have plagued the aviation industry in recent years. A similar episode occurred in April when a Jetstar flight from Bali to Melbourne had to turn back after a passenger attempted to open a door over the Indian Ocean.
According to the FAA, in-flight disturbances peaked in 2021 with nearly 6,000 reported cases. Although the number has declined, 2023 still saw over 2,000 incidents, leading to more than 400 enforcement actions and $7.5 million in fines. The FAA maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior on board aircraft.
Past incidents include a November 2023 Tokyo Houston flight where a passenger from Milwaukee injured a flight attendant while trying to exit mid-air. In another case, a man was charged for repeatedly punching a fellow passenger on a United Airlines flight, causing serious injury.
Aviation officials and carriers continue to stress the importance of onboard safety and the serious consequences of interfering with aircraft operations. While passengers on the Tokyo Houston flight may face fines or legal action, flight crews are being praised for their quick responses in ensuring flights remain secure.
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