A United Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in Washington D.C. because a passenger started praying in the aisle.
The Boeing 757 headed from Denver International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport made a quick landing when a male passenger got down in one of the aisles and started to pray, shortly before 9p.m. on Thursday. The passenger was praying very loudly and was making others nervous. He refused to follow flight attendant orders for a safe landing procedure.
The pilot of Flight 662 declared an emergency and a military fighter jet was called to escort the plane back to safety Dulles Washington International Airport in northern Virginia. The plane landed 13 minutes ahead of schedule.
When the plane landed, the passengers left the plane and the man who caused the disturbance was removed in handcuffs by police and paramedics. He was then taken away in a police car. No one was injured in the incident.
Pasengers believe the man may have had an emotional or mental disorder, but it isn't known if he is being treated for psychological problems.
This isn't the first time that a religious passenger caused a disturbance on a flight. According to the Daily Mail, an Orthodox Jewish man, wearing a traditional black hat, coat and a beard, was removed from another United Airlines flight shortly after take-off because he started praying and refused to return to his seat as well.
The man insisted on finishing the prayer before returning to his seat.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
