Delta Flight 39 Diverts to Seattle Over Unruly Aircraft Passenger

Delta flight 39, carrying 271 passengers, diverted from its Los Angeles-to-Shanghai route to Seattle on Sunday after an unruly aircraft passenger repeatedly failed to comply with flight instructions. The aircraft landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for what Delta said was "for the safety of the aircraft and passengers."

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Crew members warned the passenger multiple times before the diversion, which turned a scheduled China-bound trip into an overnight stop in Washington state. Law enforcement officers met the plane at the gate after it arrived in Seattle.

Delta Flight 39

The flight was a large aircraft, and the disruption affected every traveler onboard, not just the passenger who drew the crew's attention. Delta flight 39 was en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai, making the unscheduled stop a major interruption on a long-haul international route.

Overnight in Seattle

The passengers spent the night in Seattle and were expected to board a replacement flight to Shanghai on Monday. It was not immediately clear what the passenger did to disrupt the flight or whether the passenger was charged upon landing, leaving the practical next step for travelers focused on getting back on the replacement flight.