NEW YORK- Fort Worth-based American Airlines (AA) flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) was forced to return to New York after a passenger became disruptive mid-flight over meal preferences and seating arrangements.
The Boeing 777 aircraft operating as Flight 198 departed around 7 p.m. Monday but turned back approximately four hours into its transatlantic journey following an escalating disturbance that culminated in the passenger allegedly attempting to access the cockpit.
Photo: By Grant Wickes from Plano, TX (Dallas), USA – American Airlines Boeing 777-200 N775AN Photo_251, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33465811American Airlines Unruly Passenger
The incident reportedly began when a male passenger became agitated after not receiving his pre-selected meal and being denied seating in an exit row with an infant. According to multiple passenger accounts, the situation quickly deteriorated, with the individual becoming increasingly hostile toward cabin crew members.
Passenger Krystie Tomlinson described the scene to CBS News: “They were asking around if there were any police officers or Army members, or somebody who could help because there were no air marshals on.”
Another passenger, Michael Scigliano, told CBS News that flight attendants initially cited “technical issues” as the reason for the return, which he found “even scarier” than the actual situation.
The decision to return to JFK appears to have been made after the disruptive passenger allegedly charged past other travelers and attempted to enter the flight deck. This serious security breach prompted immediate action from the flight crew, who prioritized passenger safety by returning to New York.
Aviation trial attorney Robert Clifford commented on the incident: “Oftentimes, these are mental health issues. We don’t know all the things that the pilot knows. Maybe the pilot felt, given the circumstances of disruption and the safety of other passengers, it was best to go back.”
Photo: Clément AlloingOfficial Remarks
American Airlines issued a statement confirming: “American Airlines flight 198 with service from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) returned to JFK due to a disruptive passenger. The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority.”
The Boeing 777 landed at JFK around 3 a.m., with passengers reporting they remained onboard while authorities removed the disruptive individual. According to a police source, the man was eventually released without criminal charges despite the significant flight disruption.
Multiple passengers expressed frustration with the airline’s handling of the situation after landing. They reported receiving little assistance during their overnight airport stay before being rebooked on a flight departing around 11 a.m. Tuesday—approximately 16 hours after their original departure.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident as part of its ongoing monitoring of unruly passenger behavior. The agency has recorded more than 1,800 disruptive passenger incidents in 2024 alone.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalSimilar Incidents
An Air New Zealand flight heading to Dunedin made an emergency landing in Wellington in February 2025 after a female passenger’s erratic behavior disrupted the journey. The flight carried numerous university students and parents traveling for the start of the academic year.
The passenger, who appeared composed during boarding, began making unwanted advances toward another passenger, calling them “cute” before escalating her behavior by lifting her skirt and placing her feet on the seat in front.
Captain David Morgan, Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer, confirmed to the Herald that Flight NZ679 diverted to Wellington due to the passenger’s disruptive conduct.
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsThis incident parallels two similar disruptions on US carriers in December 2024. On December 11, JetBlue Airways Flight B6209 from New York to Santo Domingo diverted to Raleigh-Durham International Airport after being airborne for approximately one hour due to an unruly passenger.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed: “JetBlue Airlines Flight 209 landed safely at Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 9:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Dec. 11, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The Airbus A320 departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and was headed to Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.”
The following day, December 12, Spirit Airlines Flight NK1317 experienced a similar disruption while taxiing for departure from Pittsburgh International Airport to Tampa. A passenger caused a disturbance, resulting in their removal from the aircraft and delaying the flight by over ten hours.
The FAA stated they would investigate this incident as well: “The crew of Spirit Airlines Flight 1317 reported a passenger disturbance while taxiing for departure at Pittsburgh International Airport around 9:50 a.m. local time on Thursday, Dec. 12. Passengers exited the plane on the tarmac and were bused to the terminal. The Airbus A321 was headed to Tampa International Airport.”
The Spirit Airlines flight was operated by an Airbus A321-231 registered as N682NK, while the JetBlue flight used an Airbus A320-232.
Feature Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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