United flight diverted to Madison, Wisconsin due to 'unruly' passenger

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A United Airlines passenger plane departs Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease st

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MADISON, Wis. - A United Airlines flight traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis had to divert to Madison, Wisconsin due to an ‘unruly’ passenger.

Flight diverted

What we know:

According to United flight records, United Airlines Flight 2005, a Boeing 737-900, took off from O’Hare on Friday, May 29, 7:57 p.m., but diverted to Dane County Regional Airport and landed at 9:16 p.m.

147 passengers and six crew members were on board.

An official with Dane County Regional says the flight was heading to Minneapolis but was diverted due to an unruly passenger. Law enforcement on the flight restrained and handcuffed the passenger quickly, with no injuries to other passengers.

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The plane landed safely and Dane County Sheriff's deputies met the flight when it landed, removed the passenger, and arrested him.

The passenger remains in custody and there is no danger to the public. Airport operations are continuing and remaining flights will continue to arrive at the airport.

The flight resumed early Saturday morning, with the plane taking off at 1:25 a.m. and landing in Minneapolis at 2:18 a.m.

Dane County Sheriff's Office update

What we know:

The Dane County Sheriff's Office said that the flight was diverted due to the behavior of a 75-year-old male passenger.

Upon initial investigation, the sheriff's office said the passenger appeared confused and was having a mental health crisis. The passenger’s family in Minnesota was contacted and is traveling to Madison to be reunited. The FBI Milwaukee’s Madison Resident Agency immediately responded and is handling the investigation. They said no criminal charges are being pursued right now.

What they're saying:

The FBI said in a statement:

"The FBI can confirm we are looking into an incident in which a commercial flight from Chicago to Minneapolis was diverted to the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin on the evening of May 29, 2026. A subject was detained by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and afterwards passengers resumed their flight. As with any investigation, we will not publicly disclose details of the matter. 

Also, the FBI said any charges would come from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Editor's note: This story was updated with new information.