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A retired Minneapolis police chief found himself intervening in an in-flight emergency Thursday when a passenger became increasingly combative aboard United Flight 1364 from Newark to Fort Lauderdale. Brian O’Hara, traveling with his wife, observed flight attendants attempt to de-escalate the situation for approximately 45 minutes before the confrontation turned physical at 35,000 feet.
The passenger grew agitated after crew members refused to serve him additional alcohol, according to information O’Hara later obtained from the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The man shouted profanities and made threatening statements at the flight attendants before attempting to lunge toward them, prompting immediate action from fellow travelers nearby.
O’Hara rushed forward as two passengers seated toward the rear of the aircraft tackled the man from behind. The three men worked together to secure the passenger using plastic flex cuffs and restrained him in his seat, allowing the aircraft to continue safely to its destination. O’Hara subsequently learned the two assisting passengers were off-duty Bergen County Sheriff’s deputies from New Jersey.
United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, praising crew and passengers for their assistance. The Boeing 737-900 carried 174 passengers and six crew members, including two pilots and four flight attendants, the airline said.
O’Hara emphasized that social media videos circulating online do not capture the extended effort by flight crew to resolve the situation peacefully. He stressed the inherent danger of violent outbursts in confined aircraft spaces and called for airlines to ensure restraint devices are readily available and that staff receive proper training in their use.
O’Hara’s wife, a lieutenant with the Newark Police Department, was seated nearby throughout the ordeal. She later posted on social media praising her husband’s willingness to intervene, noting that leadership extends beyond one’s job title to encompassing civic responsibility during emergencies.
As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had not publicly identified the passenger or filed criminal charges. The FAA and Broward Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for additional information regarding the incident.
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