Plane Diverted To Omaha After Man Claims It’s A ‘Simulation’ And Threw ‘Punches’ Onboard

Authorities arrested a rowdy passenger who caused a flight to be diverted to Omaha, Nebraska, after he allegedly threw “punches” onboard a late December flight and claimed it was a “simulation.”

The incident happened on December 28 amid the hectic New Year’s travel period. The following day, a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska identified Jordan Robert Langston, 25, as the person who created the disturbance on United Airlines Flight 2410 following its departure from the Washington, D.C. area’s Dulles International Airport. The flight’s intended destination was Salt Lake City, Utah – but the plane made an unexpected emergency landing in Omaha after the man’s alleged unruly behavior.

According to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the airline said that the Omaha stop was “after a passenger became disruptive.” The source further disclosed that law enforcement removed the passenger from the flight after the plane’s gate arrival in Omaha. Later that evening, the diverted flight reportedly resumed to Salt Lake City. Authorities are said to have booked Langston into Douglas County Corrections.

A judge allegedly ordered on December 30 that the 25-year-old remain in law enforcement custody. Langston reportedly faces one charge related to interference with flight attendants and crew.

What Happened On The Flight Diverted To Omaha?

In an affidavit, FBI Special Agent Patrick Manion alleged that Langston’s onboard behavior began escalating shortly after takeoff. Manion wrote that after the aircraft’s ascent, the 25-year-old passenger approached a flight attendant at the front of the plane and “began stating ‘This is a simulation’ while waving his hands above his head.” Langston’s series of following behaviors included stepping on another flight attendant’s shoes, saying he “needed to get off the plane,” and receiving a verbal warning from a third crew member onboard.

The plane’s captain reportedly issued a Level 2 security threat, requiring “four able-bodied assistants (ABTs) to be informed of the situation.” Though an ABT sat next to Langston, things continued escalating, including another mention of the flight being a “simulation.”

The affidavit said Langston “forcibly stood up and [the ABT] moved to the aisle of the plane.”

“Langston proceeded to jump up and down and put his hands up. [He] proceeded to ‘shadow box’ and throw punches at [the ABT],” the document added. “Langston struck [them] in the face, just below [their] nose. This prompted [the ABT] to take Langston to the ground in the aisle.”

Before law enforcement took over, four ABTs and a flight attendant allegedly had to move Langston to the back of the plane. Reportedly, once there, the “restrained and cuffed” 25-year-old “began screaming and talking about death.”

Do Airline Workers Receive Training On To Do In These Situations?

Over 360 airlines are members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) worldwide. Domestically, the organization’s members include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and others. IATA calls for member airlines to implement “the appropriate policies and procedures to ensure the consistent handling of unruly and disruptive passenger incidents across their network.”

An IATA-published document on reducing unruly passenger incidents notes steps such as identifying the severity of offenders’ behavior, clearly communicating consequences, and maintaining respectful interactions. Additionally, industry workers should practice de-escalation, “safe service of alcohol,” and restraint training (if necessary).

Through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), all active crew members of domestic airlines can register to take a free, four-hour self-defense training program. The agency details that the training is to prepare those airline crew members “for potential physical altercations both on and off the aircraft.”

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