Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight heading from JFK Airport to Milan experienced extreme distress when the plane had to return mid-flight due to the actions of an unruly passenger. Reports reveal that a man became increasingly agitated after he was told he could not sit in an exit row with a baby and was disappointed by the unavailability of his chosen meal.

Witnesses onboard recounted the man's escalated behavior, which included charging at flight attendants and attempting to access the pilot's cabin, creating panic among travelers. One passenger, Krystie Tomlinson, stated that there was a noticeable commotion at the back of the plane, prompting crew members to seek assistance from anyone on board with law enforcement experience, as there were no air marshals present.

The flight, which took off from New York City around 7 p.m., returned to JFK at approximately 3 a.m. following four hours of flight. Despite the intense situation, passengers claimed that the airline offered no compensation for the ordeal, and limitations were placed on passengers needing facilities, such as breastfeeding during the delay. Statistics released by the FAA indicate that there have been nearly 2,000 reported incidents of unruly passengers on flights throughout 2024. Efforts for a comment from American Airlines are ongoing.