Passengers Restrain Violent Biter on Delta^® Flight

Passengers aboard Delta^® Flight 501 from Atlanta to Los Angeles experienced an unexpected and distressing event when a fellow traveler became violently unruly, resulting in assaults on multiple individuals.

Incident Unfolds Upon Landing

The flight had gone without incident until its landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on March 17, 2025. As the aircraft taxied to the gate, chaos erupted when an adult male passenger began attacking others on board, allegedly biting one individual and striking several others.

Passengers Step in to Subdue Attacker

In the midst of the turmoil, fellow passenger Ash Gurney noticed the commotion and sprang into action, recounting the incident, "My passenger next to me said there was an incident in the back of the plane or halfway down the plane, so I kind of turned around," he recalled. "I was in the aisle seat, and basically I could see people scuffling on the ground. And someone looked up the aisle and said, 'Help.' So, I kind of took my seat belt off and ran down to help," according to KBTX. Gurney described the unruly passenger as someone who "wasn't in control of himself," as reported by WSBTV.

Gurney and several other passengers tried to restrain the aggressive man, but he managed to break free from the first two restraints. As they worked to secure a third, Gurney held him in a bear hug — when the man suddenly bit him. "The first two restraints broke, but we got the third one on, and as I put the third one on, I had him in a bear hug and that's when he bit me," Gurney said, according to KBTX.

Emergency Response and Investigation

Upon arrival at LAX, emergency responders promptly boarded the aircraft. The unruly passenger was transported to a local hospital for a psychological evaluation, while medical personnel assessed the injured individuals. No information has been reported on what happened to him afterward or whether he will face any charges.

Delta Air Lines reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior and confirmed it is working closely with law enforcement authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also launched an investigation into the incident, which adds to the growing number of unruly passenger cases — more than 300 have already been reported this year. The FAA can impose civil penalties of up to $37,000 per violation for this kind of misconduct.

Rising Concerns Over In-Flight Incidents

Unruly passenger behavior has remained a persistent issue for airlines since the pandemic in 2021, when nearly 6,000 incidents were reported. Last year in 2024, the FAA received more than 2,100 new reports, highlighting the ongoing nature of the problem.

As these incidents occur, the agency will continue to take these offenses seriously, pursuing legal action against passengers who assault, threaten, or interfere with airline crew members.

References: Man allegedly bit another passenger and assaulted others on plane landing at LAX | Man bitten by unruly passenger on Delta flight says he tried to help restrain him | Unruly passenger detained by others on Delta flight: 'He bit me'