A United flight bound for Minneapolis was forced to divert to Dane County, Wisconsin after a 75-year-old man tried multiple times to breach the cockpit, prompting the pilot to issue a hijacking alert. Authorities later described the passenger as appearing conf
On Friday night, not long after a United flight left Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the cockpit suddenly became a focal point of danger.
United flight 2005. bound for Minneapolis. was forced to change course after the airline said a 75-year-old man tried multiple times to breach the cockpit. The moment escalated to such a point that the pilot issued a hijacking alert. and the Boeing 737 diverted to Dane County. Wisconsin as the situation unfolded on board.
The plane took off with 147 passengers and six crew members. Just before 9 p.m., the captain diverted to Dane County, Wisconsin. During the diversion, five law enforcement officers on board struggled to subdue the man in the aisle.
Mike Rundle. a passenger who snapped a photo from his seat. said the person visible in blue was not the suspect but was instead helping to interpret the situation. Rundle described the response in plain terms: “Five officers came on the plane. asked him to stand up. put handcuffs on him. and walked him out. We are taking this very seriously. and of course. you have to you never know the intentions of any person that might be trying to get into the cockpit of a commercial airplane.”.
Rundle also recalled how quickly the cabin shifted from routine to precaution. “Somebody with the, some sort of device and a sweatshirt that said bomb squad walked by. We were going to have to go to the gate. So, law enforcement could sweep the plane.”
No injuries were reported. After security checks, the remaining passengers resumed their flight.
Wisconsin authorities told ABC News the unruly passenger appeared confused and in a mental health crisis.
The FBI is leading the investigation, and the agency told ABC News no charges will be pursued.
The episode ended without reported harm to passengers or crew, but it left a clear question hanging over every similar flight: how a single person’s actions—whether driven by confusion or something else—can rapidly force an entire airplane into emergency mode.
United flight 2005 hijacking alert cockpit breach Chicago O'Hare Dane County Wisconsin FBI investigation mental health crisis passengers resumed flight
So they called it a hijacking alert over a dude in a sweatshirt?? Sounds like overkill.
I saw this trending and honestly it’s crazy how fast it got serious. Like the cockpit is basically protected for a reason right?
Wait—so the passenger was “bomb squad” on a sweatshirt? I thought that meant he was with law enforcement or something. But then it says FBI won’t charge?? I’m confused.
This is why I don’t trust these airports. They say “mental health crisis” but still issued a hijacking alert, diverted, and had officers in the aisle like it was a movie. If he tried multiple times to breach the cockpit, that’s not just “confused” in my book. Also why was everyone taking photos while officers were dealing with it… cmon.