Unruly Passenger Forces Diversion of Tokyo-to-Houston Flight After Attempt to Open Mid-Air Exit Door

Passenger being escorted off Houston-bound plane

A Tokyo-to-Houston flight was forced to divert to Seattle after a man allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door mid-air, prompting passengers and crew to restrain him until the plane could land.

All Nippon Airways Flight NH114, originally scheduled to arrive at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 8:25 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 24, was diverted with approximately four hours left in the journey. The aircraft instead made an unscheduled landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport around 4:19 a.m. local time due to the onboard incident.

Airplane exit (stock image)

According to airport authorities, the man tried to open the exit door while the plane was cruising at altitude. Two military veterans on board assisted flight crew in restraining him using zip ties. He remained secured to his seat for over an hour before the flight touched down in Seattle.

A fellow passenger, Ashley, who was seated directly in front of the individual, said he appeared to be in a hurry and climbed over other passengers to reach the door. “He got up in a hurry, and I just assumed he was sick,” she recounted. “It was incredible. I do want to say thank you to those kind citizens who stood up and took control. I wouldn't know what to do.”

ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in 2022

Emergency Medical Services met the aircraft upon landing and transported the man to a nearby hospital. Medical personnel later confirmed he was experiencing a medical crisis. Further details about his condition have not been released.

During the aircraft's time on the ground in Seattle, a second passenger also began behaving erratically and was removed from the flight by Port of Seattle Police. Both passengers were offloaded before the aircraft resumed its journey to Houston, where it landed around midday without further incident.

In a statement, All Nippon Airways confirmed the diversion due to an “unruly passenger” and acknowledged a second unrelated disturbance involving another traveler during the stop in Seattle. The airline thanked law enforcement and emphasized that “the safety of our passengers and crew are our top priority.”