United Flight Diverted After Passenger Tries to Open Door Midair

A United Airlines flight was diverted Thursday night after a passenger attempted to open a cabin door midair and assaulted another traveler, forcing an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport.

United Flight 1551, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 145 passengers and six crew members, departed Newark Liberty International Airport bound for Guatemala City. Less than two hours into the flight, while at an altitude of 36,000 feet, the incident occurred. The pilot reported the individual tried to open the door designated as 2L and then assaulted a fellow passenger.

The aircraft landed safely at Dulles around 8:30 p.m. local time and was met by law enforcement. A United spokesperson confirmed no injuries were reported. The disruptive passenger was taken into custody. Authorities have not released the individual's identity or details about potential charges.

Following the landing, the flight was canceled. The airline arranged overnight accommodations for all affected passengers and scheduled a replacement flight for Friday morning.

This incident follows a pattern of disruptive behavior on flights. Earlier this month, a passenger on a United flight arriving in Newark from...