A United Airlines flight en route from London Heathrow to Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to make an unexpected landing in Bangor, Maine, after two passengers, believed to be intoxicated, began causing a disturbance. The incident occurred on flight UA883, which took off from London on Friday morning.
Upon the flight’s diversion to Bangor International Airport, law enforcement was called to remove the disruptive passengers from the aircraft. United Airlines, in a statement to the BBC, confirmed the occurrence and announced that the individuals involved would be banned from future flights with the airline pending a review of the incident.
Flight UA883, carrying 150 passengers and 10 crew members, had been in the air for seven hours, traversing the Atlantic Ocean, when it suddenly veered off its course to New York and headed southeast towards Bangor. The flight left London at 07:52 GMT and made its unscheduled landing in Maine around 10:00 local time (15:00 GMT), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which referred to the situation as a “passenger disturbance.”
The Boeing 767, the aircraft involved in the incident, was able to safely resume its journey to Newark after the removal of the disruptive passengers. The Bangor Police Department disclosed their role in assisting Customs and Border Protection and the FBI, who are now leading the investigation into the matter.
United Airlines has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe and peaceful travel environment for all passengers and crew, stating, “The customers will be banned from future United flights while we review this matter.” This incident highlights the airline’s zero-tolerance policy for behavior that compromises the safety and comfort of its flights.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, bbc.com
