Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Unruly Passenger Breaks Free of Restraints Twice

A cross-country Breeze Airways flight turned into chaos Wednesday when an allegedly intoxicated man waving a skateboard terrorized crew and passengers — breaking free from his restraints not once, but twice, according to police.

Flight 704 had taken off from Norfolk, Virginia, bound for Los Angeles at 9:17 a.m. when the trouble began midair. Witnesses said the man became belligerent, hurling racist slurs at flight attendants and even passengers who tried to intervene.

“He was completely out of control,” one passenger told local media. “It was like something you’d see in a movie — except we were living it.”

The Grand Junction Police Department said the passenger’s outburst escalated into a physical altercation. Crew members managed to restrain him, but he somehow wriggled free — twice — before being subdued again. The airline reported that one passenger and a flight attendant suffered minor injuries during the scuffle, though police later said no official injury reports were filed.

“It’s rare to see someone break free from airline restraints — especially more than once,” aviation security analyst Mark Young told ABC affiliate KJCT. “That’s not just disruptive, it’s dangerous.”

The captain made the call to divert to Grand Junction, Colorado, landing around 11:15 a.m. local time. FBI agents directed local police to arrest the suspect, who was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility. His identity has not been released.

The incident adds to a troubling trend. The FAA reports that more than 1,000 cases of unruly passengers have been logged in 2025 alone. Experts point to alcohol abuse, mental health crises, and pandemic-era stress as contributing factors.

“This is yet another example of why we need stronger deterrents,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. “The safety of everyone on board is at stake.”

Breeze Airways has not announced whether the man will be placed on a no-fly list, but industry observers say a lifetime ban is almost certain.