Unruly passenger forces Newark-bound United flight to divert to Maine
Passengers say the woman was drinking heavily. She then allegedly attacked a flight attendant by biting them.
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A United Airlines flight bound for Newark Liberty International Airport was diverted to Maine on Tuesday after the crew reported an unruly passenger.
United Flight 18, which departed from Milan, Italy, landed safely at Bangor International Airport around noon, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Passengers say the woman was drinking heavily. She then allegedly attacked a flight attendant by biting them.
News 12 spoke to the husband and wife who helped to subdue the passenger.
“I peeked my head around and just saw the fight and it started tumbling toward the exit door. Both of us just jumped up and ran back there,” says Alex Suder.
RELATED: Men who duct-taped disruptive passenger speak out after Newark flight diversion
“The flight attendant kept yelling to us, ‘We have to get her on the ground, get her on the ground,’" says Alyssa Suder.
Video obtained by News 12 shows police detaining the woman on the tarmac in Bangor, Maine.
"She was agitated because every time she'd go in the back, she kept asking for more alcohol,” says Alyssa Suder.
The woman is now facing federal charges.
This is the second incident in recent times with an unruly passenger on a Newark-bound flight. An American Airlines plane was forced to divert to Baltimore. Arthur Lundeen, of Arizona, is facing disorderly conduct and second-degree assault charges in that incident.
