Wall Street has ended a wobbly session with mixed results today as concerns about the financial sector eroded enthusiasm over a decline in oil prices and a report that signalled modest growth in the service economy.

Fighter jets escorted a London-to-Washington, D.C., flight to Boston’s Logan airport today after the pilot declared an emergency because an apparently claustrophobic passenger caused a disturbance, a federal official said.

The United Airlines board of directors held a special meeting as union leaders acknowledged that a bankruptcy filing by the world’s second largest airline appeared imminent.

United Airlines said it established a plan to cut wages for management and salaried workers by $1.3bn (€1.29bn) over a five-and-a-half-year period under its financial recovery program.

United Airlines said it will lay off 2,700 flight attendants beginning Jan 31, citing decreased flight schedules.