A disruptive passenger who declared the flight was "a simulation" before shadow boxing in the aisle and assaulting a crew member has been remanded in custody, forcing a United Airlines jet to make an emergency landing.
Mid-flight chaos over 'simulation' claims
The incident occurred on Sunday on a flight from Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City. According to court documents, Jordan Robert Langston, 25, allegedly walked to the front of the aircraft mid-flight and announced to fellow travellers: "This is a simulation." He repeated the statement to the crew, stepped on an attendant's foot, and pushed another person.
An attendant warned Langston that the plane would return to the capital if his behaviour continued. The passenger, however, continued his claims, prompting the captain to initiate a level 2 security threat. The flight initially planned to continue to Utah.
Shadow boxing leads to assault and diversion
The situation escalated about 30 minutes later when Langston reportedly rose from his seat again. He began 'shadow boxing' in the aisle, an act which culminated in him punching a member of the cabin crew in the face, as detailed in an FBI complaint by Special Agent Patrick Manion.
Passengers then intervened, apprehending Langston and forcing him to the rear of the plane. He was restrained with plastic handcuffs but continued to rant about death. Following the assault, the captain decided to divert the flight to Omaha, Nebraska, where it landed shortly afterwards.
Aftermath and a turbulent year for United
Langston was removed from the aircraft in Omaha, and the flight continued to its original destination. A judge has ordered him to be held in jail pending trial, citing concerns over his mental health and potential substance abuse issues.
The event marks another challenging incident for United Airlines in 2025. Earlier in the year, controversies included disputes over service animal seating, a flight delayed due to a passenger allegedly smoking cannabis, and a Rome-bound flight that turned back to Washington D.C. after a laptop with a lithium-ion battery fell into an inaccessible part of the aircraft. A separate foul-mouthed passenger meltdown at Newark Airport was also captured on video in November.
