SEATTLE- A transpacific All Nippon Airways (NH) or ANA flight from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Houston (IAH) was forced to make an emergency landing in Seattle (SEA) after a passenger attempted to open the emergency exit mid-flight on May 24, 2025.
The ANA Boeing 787, en route across the Pacific, was diverted by the captain roughly nine hours into the journey after the disruptive passenger was restrained by fellow travelers and crew.
Photo: Kwok Ho Eddie Wong | FlickrANA Flight Emergency Landing at Seattle
According to reports, the incident occurred during ANA Flight NH174 on Saturday morning, when most passengers were asleep.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, suddenly rushed toward an emergency exit door. Quick-thinking passengers — including two military veterans — and flight attendants swiftly intervened, tackling and restraining the individual before he could tamper with the exit mechanism.
Eyewitnesses described how the man was zip-tied into a seat and monitored closely until the Boeing 787 Dreamliner could divert to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Video footage captured authorities boarding the aircraft upon landing and arresting the man without further disturbance.
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A passenger named Ashley recounted the dramatic moment, stating the man initially appeared unwell before making a sudden lunge toward the door.
The two men who restrained him were calm and professional; one confirmed he had served in the Navy. Ashley, seated nearby, expressed deep gratitude for their intervention, emphasizing the terrifying nature of the event.
The aircraft was approximately three hours from Houston when the captain initiated the diversion. ANA confirmed that the plane landed safely in Seattle around 4:20 a.m., with law enforcement and emergency medical services already on standby at the airport.
Photo: By Toshi Aoki – JP Spotters – Gallery page http://www.airliners.net/photo/All-Nippon-Airways/Boeing-787-8-Dreamliner/2221414/LPhoto http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/4/1/4/2221414.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27376402Secondary Incident Heightens Tension
Upon landing, a second passenger began acting erratically, heading to the lavatory and reportedly causing further alarm among passengers already shaken by the earlier episode.
Both individuals were removed from the aircraft by Seattle police, with the primary suspect transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.
Airport officials later clarified that the primary incident was likely linked to a “medical episode.” As of Saturday night, no criminal charges had been filed, and the passenger’s condition remained undisclosed.
Despite the panic caused, experts emphasized that it is physically impossible to open commercial aircraft doors at cruising altitude. The significant difference in cabin and external air pressure effectively seals doors shut during flight, ensuring passenger safety even during attempted breaches.
Feature Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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