Travelers say diverted flight arrived to O’Hare after hours-long delay due to disruptive passenger, describe fear, police response
CHICAGO (WLS) — A flight from New York to Chicago was forced to land in Detroit Sunday due a reported disturbance, officials said.
American Airlines flight 2819 from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport to O'Hare International Airport was diverted to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan Sunday morning.
The airline says the flight was diverted to Detroit for what they say was a disruptive passenger as other passengers told ABC7 it was an exhausting day as they finally landed in Chicago Sunday evening.
Wayne County Airport Authority Police responded to the reported disturbance aboard the diverted American Airlines flight. The FBI was also present on the scene, officials said.
A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that personnel from the FBI in Michigan responded to DTW Airport to investigate.
Officials said there was no current threat to the public.
American Airlines issued a statement, saying, "American Airlines flight 2819 diverted to Detroit (DTW) due to a disruptive customer. The aircraft landed safely at DTW where law enforcement and medical personnel met the flight and the customer deplaned. We appreciate our customers for their patience and thank our crew for their professionalism."
Passengers finally grabbed their bags at O'Hare Sunday evening roughly nine hours after the American Airlines flight was originally supposed to land in Chicago.They said it was an agonizing day of waiting for those aboard American Airlines 2819 from New York's JFK airport.
"About an hour out to Chicago we hear this person in the back screaming, yelling 'No no no,' and 'I can't get off the plane… something he didn't take his meds," passenger Gerry Sutofski said.
American Airlines safely diverted the flight to Detroit, where local police, the FBI and medical personnel quickly swarmed the plane.
"There was a guy who came on the plane with a machine gun, and we're being told put your head down and your hands up, and I'm thinking oh great we're being hijacked now," passenger Esther Sutofski said.
"It was just a little bit shocking," passenger Nevada Fischer said. "No one expected it."
The airline says passengers got off the plane and law enforcement completed a search onboard out of an abundance of caution.
After hours of waiting in Detroit, the plane finally took off for Chicago, landing at O'Hare just after 7 p.m. Passengers say they're just thankful to finally be home.
"Thank god there was nothing on the plane but we're here after a very long day," Sutofski said.
American Airlines says there is no threat the public as this was an isolated incident.
