Plane makes an emergency landing after passenger fights with a flight attendant, tries to open exit door midair: authorities

Edmonton Journal

19-07-2025

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A regional airline flight heading to Detroit had to make an emergency landing in eastern Iowa after a passenger fought with a flight attendant and tried to open an exit door midair, according to the pilot's communication with air traffic controllers.
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The pilot of the SkyWest Airlines Flight 3612 contacted the tower at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday requesting to land because of a passenger causing a disturbance.
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'He's in a fight with our flight attendant right now, trying to open the emergency exit,' the pilot said, according to audio captured by LiveATC.
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The disturbance happened shortly after the SkyWest flight departed from Omaha, Nebraska, around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to police. The flight was diverted to and landed safely at the Cedar Rapids airport, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Once on the ground, local police boarded and arrested the 23-year-old Omaha man, Cedar Rapids police said.
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The flight was able to travel on to Detroit later Thursday night, according to a statement issued by SkyWest Airlines, a Utah-based regional carrier that operates flights for major airlines like United, Delta, American and Alaska Airlines.
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'SkyWest has zero tolerance for unruly behavior as safety for our customers and crew is our top priority,' the statement read.
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