A transpacific flight from Tokyo to Houston made an emergency landing in Seattle after a passenger attempted to open an aircraft door mid-flight, authorities confirmed.
The All Nippon Airways (ANA) Flight 114 had departed from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Saturday and was en route to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Texas when the incident occurred. Several hours into the flight, the crew and passengers were forced to restrain a man who allegedly tried to open an exit door.
Port of Seattle police reported that the man was experiencing a “medical crisis” at the time of the incident. He was taken to a hospital once the plane landed. Authorities have not yet stated whether he will face any criminal charges.
“The safety of our passengers and crew are our top priority,” ANA said in a statement, thanking local law enforcement for their assistance.
While the aircraft was grounded at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a second individual was also removed from the flight due to unrelated unruly behavior, officials said.
The plane resumed its journey after a delay and landed in Houston roughly four hours behind schedule.
This event adds to a growing number of similar incidents in recent months, raising concerns about in-flight security and passenger behavior. Aviation experts regularly emphasize that aircraft doors cannot be opened mid-flight due to cabin pressure, but such attempts still pose risks and create panic among travelers.
Earlier cases have involved passengers on flights from Indonesia, South Korea, and within the United States attempting similar actions, often resulting in emergency landings and arrests.