Chaos After Passenger Attempts to Hijack Plane Mid-Flight

A United Airlines flight bound for Minneapolis was thrown into chaos Friday night after a passenger allegedly tried to force his way into the cockpit, triggering a mid-air emergency and forcing the plane to divert to Wisconsin.

United Airlines Flight UA2005 had taken off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport around 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29, and was headed for Minneapolis when the frightening incident unfolded.

What was supposed to be a routine two-hour flight quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for the 147 passengers and six crew members on board.

According to reports from WMTV, WTVM and Metro, an unidentified male passenger allegedly began “ranting in Russian” before trying to enter the cockpit. The attempt sparked a struggle on the aircraft as crew members worked to bring the situation under control.

The pilot reportedly issued squawk code 7500, a special air traffic control signal used to indicate a possible hijacking.

That code is one of the most serious alerts a pilot can send. According to FlightRadar24, squawk code 7500 allows pilots to discreetly notify air traffic control that a hijacking or unlawful interference may be taking place.

Once that code is transmitted, authorities typically move fast. Security forces may be alerted, and in some cases, military aircraft can be scrambled to escort the plane.

In this case, the United flight was diverted to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, where law enforcement was waiting.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office removed the passenger from the aircraft after it landed, and he was taken into custody, according to WTVM.

United Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE that the flight was diverted because of an “unruly passenger.”

Despite the frightening scene in the air, no injuries were reported.

The plane later landed safely, and operations at Dane County Regional Airport continued as normal after the arrest.

Federal authorities are now reportedly investigating what happened on board the flight and whether the passenger could face additional charges.

The passenger’s name has not yet been released.

United Airlines said there were 147 passengers and six crew members on the flight at the time of the incident.

The scary episode comes amid growing concerns over unruly passenger behavior on commercial flights, with airlines and federal officials continuing to crack down on in-flight disturbances that put passengers and crews at risk.

For those on board UA2005, the trip to Minneapolis turned into something far more alarming than anyone expected: a mid-air emergency, a possible hijacking alert, and an arrest waiting at the airport.