Delta Crew Used Beverage Carts to Block Disruptive Passenger, Court Filing Reveals

Flight attendants on a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo employed an unusual tactic to manage an unruly passenger.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Alaska, crew members used beverage carts as a physical barrier. This was done to restrict the passenger's movement after he allegedly became aggressive. The incident occurred on January 18 aboard Delta flight DL121, a scheduled transpacific service. The flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Incident Details and Crew Action

The flight was en route from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). The crew reported a "Level 2" disturbance to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Level 2 incidents involve physical aggression or threatening behavior toward crew.

Court documents detail that the 64-year-old passenger, identified as Harry Matthews, appeared disoriented during boarding. He was reportedly stumbling and speaking incoherently. One Delta flight attendant considered having him removed before takeoff. Another crew member, however, believed he was showing symptoms of dementia.

Mid-flight, the passenger allegedly shoved a female flight attendant from her position. Two male flight attendants intervened to separate the individuals. Later, the passenger reportedly tried to walk toward the first-class cabin.

To prevent further disruption, the crew directed him back to his seat. They then positioned two beverage carts in the aisle to block his exit. The crew justified this improvised restraint method. They feared another incident would occur with six hours of flight time remaining.

This forced the pilot to declare an emergency and execute an emergency landing Alaska. The aircraft diverted to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).

The Medical Defense

Upon landing, the passenger was detained by an FBI special agent. He was then taken to a local medical facility for evaluation.

He was later indicted on January 20 and arrested on January 23. The passenger faces one count of interfering with flight crew assault and one count of assault.

However, his defense attorney sought to dismiss the arrest warrant. The motion cited a doctor's statement to the court. A CT scan revealed tumors that had metastasized in the passenger's brain. The defense argued this medical condition could have caused the disruptive behavior.

Broader Aviation Safety Context

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of unruly passenger behavior. While overall reports have decreased from the 2021 peak, incidents remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. The FAA unruly passenger statistics show that serious incidents continue to pose safety risks.

• Airlines reported over 2,102 unruly passenger cases in 2024, a slight increase from 2023.
• The most common incidents are non-compliance, verbal abuse, and intoxication.
• The diversion of a long-haul flight, like the Minneapolis to Tokyo route, causes significant operational delays. It also incurs costs for the airline and impacts hundreds of travelers.

The use of beverage carts demonstrates the crew's quick thinking. It shows their training to prioritize cabin safety in a Level 2 scenario. This is especially true when standard restraint equipment may be insufficient or unavailable.

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