United Airlines flight diverted after passenger got stuck in the toilet

Firefighters called to force open the door

Helen Coffey
Friday 27 September 2019 14:23 BST
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A United Airlines flight had to divert after a passenger became stuck in the toilet.

The service from Washington DC to San Francisco landed at Denver instead when cabin crew’s attempts to free the traveller proved fruitless.

A Denver Airport spokesperson confirmed to KUSA-TV that the door to the toilet wouldn’t open, although it wasn’t clear why.

Firefighters had to be called in to force the door open.

United has since apologised for the incident.

The airline said in a statement: “Flight 1554 from Washington D.C. to San Francisco diverted to Denver to assist a customer who was in the lavatory when the lavatory door became inoperative.

“The passenger was safely removed from the lavatory after landing, and customers have since continued on to their destination on a new aircraft.

“We are reaching out to all customers onboard and the customer in the lavatory to apologise.”

It follows the story of an American Airlines flight forced to divert earlier this week after a male passenger lit up a cigarette and started shouting, “You’re all screwed”.

Flight 2408 was flying from Phoenix, Arizona to Minneapolis, Minnesota when the pilot made the call to land in Colorado so the disruptive passenger could be removed.

According to eye witnesses, the man ran down the aisle and into the toilet, where he started screaming and hitting the walls.

The smell of cigarette smoke also started emanating from the restroom, while the man was heard shouting, “you’re all screwed”.

Once the plane had touched down, the pilot asked the first 13 rows of passengers to exit the plane, before the man was handcuffed by police and removed from the aircraft on a stretcher.

Law enforcement confirmed they had not arrested the man and that he was taken to hospital for treatment.

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