Viral video: Woman tries to storm cockpit, crew tackles her mid-flight

An American Airlines flight from Sao Paulo to New York descended into chaos on April 24 after a female passenger attempted to force her way into the cockpit, prompting a physical response from crew members.

Caught on camera

Video footage from inside Flight 950 shows flight attendants confronting the woman near the cockpit door. As the pilot opens the door, the woman attempts to move forward but is quickly tackled to the ground by a male flight attendant. She reportedly threatened to "kick [them]" while resisting restraint.

Delay sparks disruption

Media reports suggest the chaos allegedly began after the woman became upset about the delayed takeoff.

According to aviation outlet Aeroin, she attempted to confront the pilots about the schedule.

Tensions escalated further when a barefoot first-class passenger began shouting in Portuguese, prompting additional intervention from the crew.

Plane returns to gate, passengers removed

As the situation worsened, the pilot made the call to return to the gate. According to the New York Post, both the woman and the disruptive man were removed from the aircraft and handed over to local authorities.

American Airlines later confirmed the incident caused a delay of 2 hours and 25 minutes. 

In a statement, American Airlines said: "On Thursday, April 24, American Airlines Flight 950, operating from São Paulo (GRU) to New York (JFK), returned to the boarding gate prior to departure due to a safety problem on board. The aircraft was received by police officers and later took off at 12:55 a.m. local time."

The airline reiterated that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.

Airline incidents on the rise

This episode adds to a growing list of mid-air disturbances that have forced emergency responses or delays. The FAA and airlines worldwide continue to report an increase in incidents involving unruly passengers since the pandemic.