United flight rerouted after passenger tries to open door at 36,000 feet - BERITAJA

A United Airlines formation was forced to divert Thursday aft a rider allegedly tried to unfastened a doorway astatine 36,000 feet, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and aerial postulation power audio.

Flight 1551, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying about 145 passengers and six unit members, departed Newark about 7 p.m. for Guatemala City, United said successful a statement. The FAA said the formation landed astatine Washington Dulles International Airport about 8:30 p.m. “after the unit reported a rider disturbance.”

The formation landed safely and was “met by rule enforcement” to reside what the hose described arsenic an “unruly” passenger, according to the United statement. There were nary reports of injuries.

“The formation was canceled, pinch a replacement formation added for Friday morning, and customers were provided overnight accommodations,” the United connection said.

Air postulation power audio obtained by Beritaja captures a chat of the incident while the level was still successful the air. One aerial postulation controller is heard asking the crew, “Which doorway did the rider effort to open?”

A unit personnel is heard responding that it was “Door 2L astatine 36,000 feet,” adding that the rider past assaulted different personification connected the flight.

As portion of the FAA’s reauthorization bill, the agency could propose fines of up to $43,658 per usurpation for unruly rider cases. The FAA has said that a azygous incident could consequence successful aggregate violations.