A Delta Connection flight bound for Detroit was forced to make an emergency landing Thursday evening after a passenger attempted to open an emergency exit door mid-flight and engaged in a physical altercation with a flight attendant, as reported[1] by The New York Post.
Flight 3612, operated by SkyWest Airlines on behalf of Delta Air Lines, had departed from Omaha, Nebraska, and was en route to Detroit, Michigan, when the incident occurred.
A Delta plane makes its way from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving on Nov. 23, 2021, in Phoenix. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
The plane was approximately one-third of the way into its scheduled journey when the passenger seated in an exit row tried to open the emergency exit, according to local news outlet WDIV.
During the struggle, the pilot communicated with air traffic control at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, warning of the situation on board.
“In a fight with our flight attendant right now, trying to open the emergency exit,” the pilot radioed around 7 p.m., according to a recording obtained by LiveATC.net and reported by CNN.
Flight attendants and fellow passengers intervened to prevent the individual from opening the exit door, which could have posed serious safety risks while the aircraft was in the air.
The flight crew successfully subdued the passenger, and the pilot diverted the aircraft to Cedar Rapids, where law enforcement was prepared to meet the plane upon landing.
Video footage taken after the landing shows a man in a white T-shirt being escorted off the plane in handcuffs by law enforcement officers. His identity has not yet been made public, and it remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed.
NEW THIS MORNING: Passenger arrested after allegedly trying to open exit door on SkyWest flight – forcing an emergency landing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa#LiveDesk[3]pic.twitter.com/HC45AvFNbA[4]
— Steve McCarron KOMO (@SteveTVNews) July 18, 2025[5]
Following the incident, the airline issued a statement through SkyWest, the regional carrier operating the flight. “SkyWest has zero tolerance for unruly behavior as safety for our customers and crew is our top priority,” the statement read.
The flight was originally scheduled to land in Detroit later that evening. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Authorities in Iowa have not yet released further details regarding the investigation or potential legal consequences for the passenger involved.
The Federal Aviation Administration has not commented on the incident, but such events are typically referred to federal authorities for review under potential violations of aviation safety regulations and federal law.
