A United Airlines flight traveling from Shanghai to San Francisco was diverted to Japan on Wednesday due to a disruptive passenger's behavior.
United flight 858 landed at Narita International Airport near Tokyo, where law enforcement removed an elderly female passenger after a significant mid-air disturbance.
One passenger described the woman as initially appearing normal but stated that her behavior escalated shortly after takeoff. The passenger claimed she tossed documents, shouted expletives, and hit herself periodically. She also allegedly made comments to flight attendants about being "oppressed."
When a flight attendant and later the captain attempted to address her, the woman reportedly reacted defensively, elbowing the captain when he touched her shoulder. A verbal altercation ensued between the captain and the passenger.
Despite a period of apparent calm, the disruption continued. The passenger reportedly threw trash on the floor and attempted to show fellow passengers a photo on her phone, claiming she was being oppressed. She allegedly threw all the trash on the floor, making a mess in her row.
Passengers were informed of the diversion, but the woman seemed unaware until Japanese authorities boarded the plane. She appeared confused and unwilling to disembark.
A Chinese-speaking official explained the situation, and the woman eventually left the aircraft. It is unclear what happened to her after deplaning.
United Airlines confirmed that law enforcement met the aircraft and removed the passenger. The plane underwent maintenance inspection before continuing its journey to San Francisco. The flight arrived approximately two hours later than its originally scheduled time. IMAGE2