A passenger aboard a United Airlines flight became increasingly belligerent after flight attendants reportedly declined to serve him additional alcohol. The incident occurred on August 5, 2026, aboard united flight 1364, which was traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The passenger's behavior escalated during the flight's final 45, so much so that former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara had to step in and restrain him.
In an interview with Bring Me The News, O'Hara said he was traveling to Florida to consult with local law enforcement agencies when the passenger's behavior escalated. Flight attendants attempted to de-escalate the situation, which was sparked when they refused to serve the man any more alcohol, before O'Hara and two other passengers intervened. They succeeded in restraining the man in plastic handcuffs and returning him to his seat until the aircraft landed. The incident marks O'Hara's first public remarks since resigning from the Minneapolis Police Department earlier this year.
Footage posted to social media by O'Hara's wife, Wafiyyah O'Hara, captured the passenger, wearing a shirt reading "Too Lit," being taken into custody after the plane landed.
In a statement accompanying the video, she wrote that leadership "isn't just about the job you hold, it's about being willing to help when others need it," adding that she was "grateful everyone on board arrived safely."
United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, saying local law enforcement met the flight upon arrival in Fort Lauderdale "to address an unruly passenger," and thanked crew members and passengers for "assisting with the situation and helping ensure the safety of everyone onboard.“
The news comes just days after another United Airlines flight made headlines for a similar mid-air disruption. On a flight bound for Houston, Texas, last week, an intoxicated passenger argued with crew members and his own father before the situation escalated, according to video obtained by Aero Saga. The flight's captain ordered passengers to remain seated, instructing them to "protect the flight deck at all costs." As the man became more combative, several passengers restrained him across multiple seats, coordinating to control his head, torso, arms and legs while repeatedly checking that he was still breathing. He was subdued and turned over to authorities upon the flight's arrival in Houston
