A Delta flight returned to Houston shortly after takeoff early Wednesday because of an unruly passenger, according to Delta Air Lines and authorities. The incident occurred on Delta Flight 2557, which departed Houston’s Hobby Airport bound for Atlanta.
Delta said there were reports that a male passenger on the flight tried to break into the cockpit, but the airline said that wasn’t the case. Delta said the passenger instead exhibited “unruly and unlawful behavior toward other customers” and was met by police after the aircraft returned to the airport.
A Houston police spokesperson said that when officers were called, dispatch was told that a person was trying to breach a cockpit. The spokesperson said officers detained one male and that they had not heard of any reported injuries.
After the detention, the flight departed again and arrived in Atlanta about 90 minutes behind schedule, Delta said. The airline did not provide additional details about what it described as the passenger’s behavior.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the incident.
The episode follows broader FAA attention to passenger disruptions. Last year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched an air travel civility campaign that cited an FAA finding of a 400% increase of in-flight outbursts since 2019 and 13,800 unruly passenger incidents since 2021.