An American Airlines flight had to make an unexpected stop in Buffalo, New York, after a passenger caused a disturbance. The flight, operated by Envoy Air under American Airlines, was originally traveling from Chicago to Manchester, New Hampshire.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
American Airlines Handles In-Flight Chaos
The trouble started when 25-year-old Neil McCarthy, from Oregon, reportedly began acting inappropriately after consuming multiple alcoholic drinks known as "Jack and Cokes" before and during the flight.
According to the authorities, McCarthy exposed himself and urinated in the aisle of the plane, leading to the emergency landing.
Passengers on the flight witnessed the incident, and one of them managed to take a photo of McCarthy's actions, which was later shown to the police.
Fox Business News reported that the flight crew quickly alerted the authorities, and as soon as the plane landed, police officers boarded the aircraft, arrested McCarthy, and escorted him off.
American Airlines has apologized to the passengers and commended the crew for handling the situation with professionalism. The airline confirmed that after the incident was resolved, the plane continued to its intended destination in New Hampshire.
McCarthy is now facing charges of indecent exposure and could be penalized with up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. The event has raised concerns about in-flight safety and the challenges crews face when dealing with disruptive onboard passengers.
Lawsuit Over Drunk Passenger Incident
Gretchen Stelter, an editor from Madison, Wisconsin, is suing American Airlines after a disturbing flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Chicago.
Stelter, who was returning from a vacation in Mexico, encountered an intoxicated passenger who harassed and physically touched her during the flight.
The Chicago Tribune revealed that the incident began as Stelter tried to work on a manuscript in business class. Despite her efforts to avoid conversation by using headphones and focusing on her laptop, the man next to her, seated in 3B, engaged her in conversation after ordering alcoholic drinks.
As he consumed more alcohol, his behavior escalated from chatty to inappropriate, culminating in sexual harassment and physical contact.
American Airlines is criticized for how its flight attendants handled the situation.
According to Stelter, the crew did not intervene effectively even after the man made explicit comments and touched her inappropriately. She felt trapped and unsafe throughout the flight as the man's conduct worsened.
After landing, the situation did not improve. Stelter reported the incident to American Airlines but claimed the unsatisfactory response added to her distress.
The airline's customer relations team initially blamed her for the incident, and it took several days before a senior airline executive apologized for handling her complaint.
American Airlines has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. Meanwhile, Stelter's experience has significantly impacted her professional and personal life, leading to a reduction in her job responsibilities and affecting her work as a part-time advocate for rape survivors.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
