Summary

  • Flight delays from Indianapolis to New York due to unruly passengers cause safety concerns, leading to arrests and a 90-minute delay.
  • The passenger was arrested for arguing with the crew about bag placement and using threatening language onboard the Delta Connection flight.
  • Delta swiftly deplaned and resolved the situation, apologizing for disruption as FAA reported over 600 disruptive incidents in 2023.

A scheduled flight between Indianapolis and New York was delayed on Friday after the aircraft had to return to the gate due to the conduct of some passengers onboard. Once the aircraft was deplaned, a female passenger was arrested, and the flight was 90 minutes late.

DL4994, a flight operated by Endeavor Air on behalf of Delta, is a regularly scheduled service between Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and New York La Guardia Airport (LGA), was scheduled to depart at 14:53, with an expected arrival time of 17:02. However, it only ended up leading Indiana at 16:49 and arriving in the Big Apple at 18:19.

Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines) Bombardier CRJ900 taking off.

Photo: SkyWest Airlines

According to a report by WishTV, a passenger, Bill Leschorn, stated several passengers were yelling and using threatening language. This made the crew question the safety of everyone else onboard, and the decision was made to return to the terminal.

Related

The United States Experienced A Drop In Unruly Passenger Incidents In 2023

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Refusing to put their bag under the seat

According to Leschorn, the engines were already powering up to depart before the pilot decided to stop and return to the gate. It stemmed from a passenger several rows behind him arguing with the flight attendant, refusing to put her bag in the overhead bin. Two more companions joined in the disagreement, and the anger turned from the crew to other passengers when they told the group to keep their voices down. The unruly passengers have been alleged to be using threatening language and propositions of physical violence and verbal assault.

Passengers have backed the carrier’s actions, noting they felt safer with the unsettled passengers off the plane. While the flight was delayed 90 minutes, witnesses believe the airline swiftly resolved the situation. The 37-year-old woman, who was told at least five times to store her bag correctly, was deplaned and continued to argue with airline staff. She was then swiftly arrested in Indianapolis and was taken away by local police.

Delta’s response to the incident:

The Atlanta-based Skyteam carrier was quick to release a statement about the event, which outlined:

“Endeavor Air flight 4994 operating as Delta Connection from Indianapolis to New York – LaGuardia returned to the gate due to unruly passengers on board,” a statement from Delta read. “The passengers were deplaned and the aircraft carried on safely to their final destination. We apologize to our customers for the disruption in their travel plans.”

Delta Air Lines Mitsubishi CRJ900 shutterstock_2382886131

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

According to the FAA, 624 dangerous passenger behaviors have disrupted flights this year.

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