FBI and FAA investigating unruly passenger removed from United flight in Chicago

By Pete Muntean, CNN

The FBI and the FAA are investigating an incident involving an “unruly passenger” on board a commercial flight that sent two passengers and one flight attendant to the hospital.

United Airlines says a “disruptive customer” on board flight 476 from San Francisco was “removed by law enforcement” after the flight landed in Chicago early Sunday morning.

“One member of the flight attendant crew was taken to a hospital for evaluation,” United said in a statement to CNN. “We’re grateful to our crew for handling this difficult situation with professionalism and for putting the safety of our team and our customers first.”

“United Airlines Flight 476, a Boeing 777-200, landed safely at Chicago O’Hare International Airport around 6 a.m. Sunday after the crew reported an unruly passenger,” the FAA said in a statement.

Chicago Police say a total of three people on the flight were taken to Resurrection Hospital “for observation,” adding that no criminal charges have been filed.

“The FBI is currently investigating this incident,” Chicago Police said in a statement.

CNN has reached out to the FBI.

Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents United Airlines flight attendants, said there is “zero tolerance” for this kind of disruption.

“Aviation’s first responders are charged with the safety of everyone on board. When disruptions like this happen, it not only risks the safety of crew involved, it takes away from Flight Attendants’ ability to respond to a medical, safety, or security emergency,” Nelson said.

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Top image: The United Airlines terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport is seen in this file photo. (Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images)