Drunk Passenger Bites Flight Attendant, Forces U.S.-Bound Plane to Return to Tokyo

An All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Seattle was disrupted when a heavily intoxicated passenger bit a flight attendant, prompting the plane to return to Tokyo Haneda airport, according to the airline.

The incident took place while the flight, ANA 118, was flying over the Pacific Ocean. The passenger, a 55-year-old American citizen, reportedly bit the arm of a female cabin attendant. As a result, the pilot decided to turn the aircraft around, and the plane returned to Tokyo Haneda Airport.

The flight had taken off at 9:24 p.m. local time and was scheduled to land in Seattle approximately 10 hours later. However, it arrived back in Tokyo around three hours after departure, at 12:26 a.m., according to flight tracking company FlightAware.

Upon landing, the suspect was handed over to the local police. The unnamed flight attendant sustained minor injuries. The exact identity of the suspect and the charges against them have not been confirmed. However, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, the suspect is an American citizen who was arrested on assault charges.

This is not the first incident involving an intoxicated passenger causing harm during a flight. In July 2022, a woman on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Charlotte hit, bit, and spat at flight crews, resulting in fines of $81,950 issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. Another incident occurred on a Delta Air Lines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta, where a woman attempted to hug and kiss another passenger and subsequently bit them multiple times, leading to a fine of $77,272.

These incidents highlight the growing concern regarding unruly behavior on flights. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in such incidents, leading to stricter regulations and penalties for disruptive passengers.

While uncommon, in-flight assaults and disturbances pose a threat to the safety and security of passengers and crew members. Authorities and airlines continue to take these incidents seriously and are working to ensure the well-being of everyone on board.

This incident adds to a series of recent aviation-related incidents in Japan. Earlier this month, a fire broke out on a coast guard jet at Haneda Airport, resulting in the death of five people. In another incident, a Korean Air plane collided with a Cathay Pacific airliner at New Chitose Aiport in Hokkaido. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries in that incident.

Authorities, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, are investigating the latest incident involving the drunk passenger and the flight attendant. Ensuring the safety and security of all passengers and crew members remains a top priority for airlines, and necessary actions will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.