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Home » United Airlines » United Airlines 777 To Amsterdam Diverts After Passenger Becomes Unruly When His Preferred Business Class Meal Was Not Available (Video)
NewsUnited Airlines

United Airlines 777 To Amsterdam Diverts After Passenger Becomes Unruly When His Preferred Business Class Meal Was Not Available (Video)

Matthew Klint Posted onJuly 13, 2023November 13, 2023 32 Comments

a man in a checkered shirt

UPDATE: A video has emerged on TikTok of the man yelling at flight attendants onboard, which prompted the diversion. The NSFW video is filled with vulgar language, but is comically pathetic. Dude, it’s just an airline meal. He claims to be standing up for his rights, but just makes a fool out of himself (likely fueled by intoxication).

@ifyoureashleyanduknowit

We got to stop in Chicago to let this super nice guy off the plane. He continued to laugh and antagonize the United crew after these, and they handled it with such calm! #unitedairlines #unitedairlinestiktok #amsterdam #chicago #houston

♬ original sound – Ashley Woodford

This is just a snippet: Apparently there is more video that has not been posted yet…

The man claims to be a “frequent flyer on United” to which my response is not anymore!

My original story is below.


Such a silly diversion…especially considering how poor the food can be on United Airlines in Polaris Business class. Nevertheless, a European-bound United 777-200 diverted to Chicago after a passenger apparently could not take the blow of having to eat his second choice on the menu.

United Airlines 777 Diverts To Chicago To Dump Passenger Who Made A Scene After Denied His First Meal Choice In Business Class

I held off on writing about this yesterday hoping that video or photos would emerge from the incident, but since that has not occured, let’s run down what happened and why this is so silly.

On July 09, 2023 UA20 took off from Houston (IAH) for Amsterdam (AMS). However, less than four hours later it landed in Chicago (ORD) to dump off one passenger…who became quite unruly onboard.

a plane flying in the sky

Aviation insider JonNYC was able to obtain information from United’s crew chat feature that placed the blame on a passenger in seat 11G:

“Disruptive pax on board, seat 11G, threat level 1”

(Level one is the lowest threat onboard, yet the captain decided a diversion was still warranted).

It appears the man was intoxicated as well.

The flight had to circle Chicago several times before landing in order to dump fuel:

#UA20 from Houston to Amsterdam jettisoning fuel prior to diversion to Chicago due to an unruly passenger. https://t.co/aAyj03wnLY pic.twitter.com/FzGN6090MC

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 10, 2023

Despite having to refuel and handle crew scheduling issues, the flight took off again and only landed about three hours late in AMS.

a screenshot of a plane

Officially, United has chosen not to go into detail beyond calling the passenger unruly:

“United flight 20 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Amsterdam diverted to O’Hare International Airport and landed safely following a passenger disturbance. Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and escorted the passenger off the plane. The aircraft then continued to Amsterdam.”

Beyond any criminal penalties (it is not clear if there were any physical attacks), I hope that United sues this passenger to pay for additional crew labor time plus he cost of fuel and any other associated expenses incurred due to this diversion.

It’s Just (United Airlines) Plane Food!

The absurdity of this situation is that it was all over an airline meal, specifically an airline on United Airlines! Goodness, I’ve written more than anyone on the state of affairs of meal service on United Airlines over the last few years and the prognosis is that meals are still a work in progress.

Polaris passengers are given a choice of four meals onboard (and also now invited to preorder) and generally asked for their first and second choice when meal orders are taken. Meals are then sorted by priority, with pre-orders given preference followed by Global Services and 1K members.

Throwing a hissy fit over not getting fish (usually the first to go) or beef (another popular choice) is just absurd: I have to believe it was the intoxication at work.

food on a tray on a table

CONCLUSION

Dear friends, it’s just an airline meal. And for goodness sakes, it’s just a United Airlines meal. Don’t sweat it if you do not get your first choice. You’ll survive. And for the passenger booted off in Chicago: I hope you lawyer up and I hope that United Airlines comes after you swiftly and severely for your poor behavior.

top image: @ifyoureashleyanduknowit / TikTok

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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32 Comments

  1. Santastico Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 9:59 am

    The guy made a scene for UA food. It tells me everything I need to know about him.

    • Mr. Marcus Reply
      July 13, 2023 at 1:37 pm

      Even after the update with the video, this is still the best comment of the thread.

  2. viapanam Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 10:08 am

    Alcohol. Ban it from aircraft and airports.

    • Dave Edwards Reply
      July 11, 2023 at 10:57 am

      What a crazy take! Punish everyone for a few a-holes.

  3. Sco Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 11:06 am

    I was assuming it must have been a meal for religious or allergy restrictions that didn’t get loaded. Thats the only way I could even begin to make sense of it, but who knows.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      July 11, 2023 at 11:52 am

      United never seems to load enough fish. My bet is it was that! 😉

      • Santastico Reply
        July 13, 2023 at 5:17 pm

        Delta usually has fish as special order on international business class meaning you have to pre order when they send you the menu via email. Usually fish is not available to everyone.

  4. Stuart Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 12:00 pm

    It had to be the French Fries. Since Matthew’s glowing review people are clamoring for them throughout the world. Scott Kirby though, ever the quick gun at laying blame elsewhere, commented, “We have unfortunately been hit by shortages of our beloved French Fries due to FAA staffing problems.”

  5. Malik on Wall Street Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 12:29 pm

    Talk about a tantrum….

  6. Sara Smith Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 12:52 pm

    What US flight attendants won’t do to get out of doing their jobs. My goodness.

    • Flyer1 Reply
      July 11, 2023 at 3:36 pm

      If you’re going to play Tammy the Troll at least have your comment make some sort of sense based on what the article is about.

  7. Jerry Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    Sounds like we really don’t know what happened. Was this guy really a security threat, or was he just a jerk? It isn’t against the law to be rude to people; even to say very hurtful things. I’m not defending him, but he may not have any liability at all if the Captain decided to land because of their decision to divert, would could be fully rooted in the Captain’s own ego. I suspect the flight could have made it across the Atlantic just fine, and it would have saved time, money, and resources. Though a video could certainly prove me wrong.

  8. rts Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 4:09 pm

    Seems like this is predicting a problem. Today is July 11, 2023 and the text says the flight was July 23, 2023.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      July 11, 2023 at 4:29 pm

      ha.

  9. JoeMart Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 5:30 pm

    Was the plane re-catered in Chicago to avoid being short of choices? Imagine the riot that would ensue if the ice cream sundae cart service was discontinued or offering wine flights tastings.

  10. Mike Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 5:35 pm

    If he can’t keep your sh*t together over a meal choice on an airplane, he is not stable enough to be on board a pressurized airplane, 5 miles in the sky, with dozens or hundreds on board.

  11. Tony N. Reply
    July 11, 2023 at 9:50 pm

    That’s what happens when you rely on FOOD with an airline. That’s crazy.

  12. BDAGuy Reply
    July 12, 2023 at 12:08 pm

    It is time to call out and punish poor behavior. We have turned into a population of entitled bullies who believe that their behavior and actions must always be tolerated by others and always accommodated by service providers. Enough. Was the diversion inconvenient for passengers and crew? Certainly. However, what else would “Mr. Meal” have concocted to further disrupt for the remaining ten hours of the flight had he not been removed? How many complaints from other Polaris passengers would United have received for “not addressing” the matter?
    It is time for toxic behavior to be addressed from abusive passengers, to ridiculous “emotional support” animals, to the ever-popular peanut allergies. Need emotional support from your pet iguana or can’t stomach the idea of a peanut butter sandwich within 20 feet or your choice of badly prepared fish isn’t available, then drive!

  13. Nick Reply
    July 12, 2023 at 2:13 pm

    Speaking of not getting what you want…does anyone know if United enforced the 12 noon arrival time for access to Polaris lounges. Specifically IAD on a Tuesday. Thanks!

  14. Billy Bob Reply
    July 13, 2023 at 10:49 am

    I knew it. Another boomer Trumper. Can’t that generation go extinct any faster?

    • Koggerj Reply
      July 13, 2023 at 9:17 pm

      Only people dying are the libs. Too much fentanyl and women who dont want to have kids.

      The Hispanics will out number you soon and they are the fastest growing rightwing demo.

      • Billy Bob Reply
        July 13, 2023 at 9:55 pm

        Lol. All the opioid deaths are happening in red areas. Also, I’m pretty sure old people are dieing faster than conservative Hispanics are coming in. Hopefully for you those republican Hispanics never realize you guys hate them. Lastly, we can’t forget about all the patriots that died from covid in the name of freedum, probably cost you the 2020 election and bigger gains in 2022.

  15. Rozellev Reply
    July 13, 2023 at 11:48 am

    I hope EU rule 261 is applied that fool costs them hundreds of thousands of dollars but he is a 1k so he can afford the bill lol

  16. ps241 Reply
    July 13, 2023 at 12:17 pm

    The video is not going to win any awards for cinematography.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      July 13, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      Lol!

  17. UAL jetset Reply
    July 13, 2023 at 4:16 pm

    I feel soo sorry for him,,,,,,hard working idiot who hopefully just got on the no fly list,,,,,hope his wife, ex wife, mistress, or whatever piece of trailer park trash he may hang out with sees this,,,,,

  18. Marv Reply
    July 13, 2023 at 5:19 pm

    Guaranteed MAGAtard.

    • Koggerj Reply
      July 13, 2023 at 9:18 pm

      Trashy tatts and entitled = libtard

      • Billy Bob Reply
        July 13, 2023 at 10:29 pm

        He’s old as dirt and male so that makes it at least 90% chance of maga

  19. Michael Reply
    July 13, 2023 at 10:50 pm

    I would complain if I got the fish

  20. DigitalBob Reply
    July 14, 2023 at 11:10 am

    The guy was a dick but didn’t threaten, raise his voice, or do anything I saw that justified diverting and kicking him off. Over-reaction by crew.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      July 14, 2023 at 1:21 pm

      While I think your point is reasonable based upon the clip posted online (as deplorable as his foul language is), it appears this went on for much longer and other, harsher words were levied.

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