A United Airlines flight heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota, made an emergency stop in Madison, Wisconsin, after a passenger allegedly attempted to enter the cockpit. The incident took place on Friday, as confirmed by air traffic control audio.
The flight departed from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport around 8 p.m. CDT. According to a statement by United shared with Fox News Digital, the plane “landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin to address a security concern with an unruly passenger.” Flight tracking data indicated that the plane touched down at Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport approximately 90 minutes after takeoff.
United Airlines did not disclose specific details about the threat. However, air traffic control audio from the airport reviewed by WISN indicated that the passenger made “multiple attempts to breach the cockpit.”
A crew member noted, “I do not believe they ever cuffed him, but they were able to finally get control of him after multiple attempts to try to breach the cockpit. I believe at this point he is seated in a seat and flanked with law enforcement officers on either side.”
Further insights came from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office scanner audio, reviewed by Fox News Digital. It was revealed that five off-duty law enforcement officers aboard the plane had detained the unruly individual. A member of the sheriff’s office could be heard noting this situation.
Authorities took the passenger off the aircraft at approximately 10:30 p.m. CDT, as further communications from the sheriff’s office detailed.
In a statement provided to FOX 6 Milwaukee, the FBI acknowledged their involvement. “On May 29, 2026, the FBI was notified that a commercial flight traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis was being diverted to Dane County Regional Airport. FBI Milwaukee’s Madison Resident Agency and local law enforcement partners responded immediately. A subject was detained by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and afterwards passengers resumed their flight.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several agencies, including the Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, TSA, the FBI, and Dane County Regional Airport for additional details.
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