Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Passenger Incident

Passenger tried to access the cockpit, leading to emergency landing and police response.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Delta Air Lines flight from Houston to Atlanta made an emergency landing early Wednesday after a passenger tried to access the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and the plane landed back at Houston's Hobby Airport, where police were waiting. The passenger was taken into custody, and the flight later continued on to Atlanta with a 90-minute delay.

Why it matters

Incidents of unruly passenger behavior on flights have been on the rise in recent years, raising concerns about in-flight safety and security. This latest incident highlights the ongoing challenges airlines face in dealing with disruptive passengers and the need for robust protocols to address such situations.

The details

According to the pilot's radio communication, the passenger "approached crew and customers but did not make contact with or attempt to access the flight deck." The passenger was restrained and taken into custody upon landing. Delta said the safety of customers and crew is their top priority and they have "zero tolerance for unruly behavior."

  • The Delta flight 2557 took off from Houston's Hobby Airport early Wednesday morning.
  • The pilot declared an emergency and landed the plane back at Hobby Airport about 17 minutes after takeoff.

The players

Delta Air Lines

A major U.S. airline that operates the flight from Houston to Atlanta where the incident occurred.

Passenger

An unidentified passenger who attempted to access the cockpit, leading to the emergency landing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We had a passenger get up and try to access the cockpit. Can you coordinate and have security standing by?”

— Delta Pilot (Broadcastify recording)

“The safety of our customers and crew is paramount, and Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior.”

— Delta (CNN)

What’s next

The FAA is investigating the incident to determine if any further action is warranted.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges airlines face in maintaining in-flight safety and security, and the need for robust protocols to address disruptive passenger behavior that could potentially compromise the safety of flights.