A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday after a disruptive passenger attempted to gain access to the cockpit mid-flight. The incident occurred on Delta Flight 2557, which departed from Houston Hobby Airport bound for Atlanta at approximately 5:25 am.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot declared an emergency and returned to the airport. The pilot reportedly told air traffic control that a passenger had gotten up and tried to access the cockpit. The passenger was displaying unruly and unlawful behaviour, which was reported to Houston Police.
The aircraft, a Boeing 717, was met by law enforcement upon landing. The disruptive passenger was removed from the plane, which carried 85 passengers and five crew members. The flight later departed again, about 90 minutes behind schedule.
A Delta spokesperson said: 'The safety of our customers and crew is paramount, and Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behaviour. We apologise to our customers for this experience and delay in their travels.' A Houston Airport spokesperson confirmed that police responded to the incident.
