US Jet diverted after man rushes to cockpit

A United Airlines flight en route to Denver had to return to a Washington DC airport when a passenger rushed toward the cockpit before being grabbed by other passengers.

According to reports, the man shouted “jihad, jihad” and threatened to hijack the aircraft.

The flight, carrying 33 passengers and six crew, had to return to Washington Dulles International Airport after takeoff on Monday evening when the passenger “failed to comply with crew instructions”, said United Airlines spokesman Luke Punzenberger in a statement.

Punzenberger declined to provide further details, but ABC News reported that the man had to be restrained by other passengers after rushing the cockpit, citing LiveATC.net, which provides air traffic control communications online.

“He ran forward towards the cockpit and was restrained by passengers,” said one of the pilots during the flight, according to ABC News. “Cockpit is secure and we would like to return to the airport and have the authorities meet him.”

Local authorities detained the passenger at the gate, Punzenberger said. ABC News said the man was then taken to a local hospital for checks.