Flight headed to Minneapolis triggers rare hijacking alert after passenger allegedly tries to force his way into cockpit

A United Airlines flight that was headed to Minneapolis was forced to make an emergency landing in Wisconsin on Friday, May 29, after a man allegedly tried to hijack the plane. The “unruly passenger” was reportedly trying to access the cockpit.

According to Metro, the flight was from Chicago. The UK outlet also released more information about the man, pointing out that he was trying to gain access to the flight deck of the Boeing 737 while allegedly speaking Russian. There is still very little information on the perpetrator, and there is no immediate indication whether he had any religious or political motivations.

What is known is that the pilot issued the squawk code 7500. This is the internationally recognized code pilots use to alert air traffic controllers that they are undergoing an attempted hijacking. The pilot then promptly diverted from the predetermined route to Madison, Wisconsin, with no further interruptions reported over the plane’s radio.

According to ABC7 Chicago, United Airlines released a statement saying, “United flight 2005 from Chicago to Minneapolis landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin, to address a security concern with an unruly passenger. The flight is expected to continue to Minneapolis later on Friday.”

Reportedly, when the plane landed, the passenger was placed in handcuffs immediately after it touched the ground. That’s when more information started coming out. According to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the passenger is a 75-year-old man who “appeared confused and in mental health crisis.”

The sheriff’s office said that the arrested passenger’s family was alerted and asked to travel to Madison to assist authorities in handling the situation with greater sensitivity. According to ABC7 Chicago, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office said, “FBI Milwaukee’s Madison Resident Agency immediately responded and is handling the investigation. They advised no criminal charges are being pursued at this time.”

According to People, the story captured public attention not only because of the horrific memories another plane hijacking evokes in the American public’s mind, but also because of the emergency code that pilots have at their disposal.

Some people were unaware of all the onboard contingencies pilots have available to them in the post-9/11 era. Firstly, nobody is allowed into the cockpit in this day and age, unless they receive the explicit invitation and approval of the pilot in command. Even when pilots need to leave the flight deck or allow a crew member inside, the door is instantly relocked.

The director of the Air Line Pilots Association, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, clearly stated, “Ensuring that no terrorist — domestic or international — breaches another aircraft flight deck door again should be one of this nation’s highest security priorities.” Because of that, any threat, as small as it might seem at the time, is treated with the utmost seriousness.

As for the elusive squawk code 7500, according to FlightRadar24, there is a very specific chain of events that happens afterward. They explain: “What happens after this code is transmitted varies, but usually, security forces tend to get involved. The process, which is depicted in movies and TV, is an escort by military aircraft, and authorities may also be waiting upon arrival.”

On the United flight that made the emergency landing in Wisconsin, all the 147 passengers were safe and sound.