Delta Atlanta to San Diego Flight Unruly Passenger Arrested

DALLAS— A Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from Atlanta (ATL) to San Diego (SAN) was diverted to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) after a disruptive passenger caused a mid-air disturbance on July 5, 2025. The incident occurred on Delta Flight 731, prompting police intervention and a temporary delay.

Authorities at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) reported that the passenger, identified as Corbin Sanders, became aggressive mid-flight, removed his clothing, assaulted a crew member, and had to be physically restrained by fellow passengers, NBC San Diego reported.

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

Delta Passenger Arrested

Passengers aboard Delta Flight 731 were approximately two hours into their journey when the disturbance began. Witnesses described the passenger yelling incoherently and removing his shirt while repeatedly shouting, “I wanna go home, I wanna see my family.”

San Diego resident Rodelyn Kupfersmid, seated nearby, believed the man was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

As the situation escalated, fellow passengers and flight attendants worked together to subdue him. After efforts to calm him failed, the flight crew decided to divert the Airbus A321 to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for security reasons.

When the plane landed at DFW, officers from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Police boarded the aircraft. They found Sanders slumped in his seat with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. He was restrained using plastic zip ties and escorted off the aircraft without resistance.

Authorities later confirmed that Sanders, a North Carolina resident, was charged with public intoxication.

Kupfersmid, who recorded part of the incident, said the crew and passengers handled the crisis calmly and efficiently. After about 90 minutes on the ground, the flight resumed its journey to San Diego (SAN).

Photo by WikiCommons

Delta Zero-Tolerance Policy

Delta Air Lines issued a statement reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on unruly behavior, emphasizing that the safety of passengers and crew is a top priority. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and thanked travelers for their patience.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also commented, noting its policy of strict enforcement in such cases. According to the FAA, interfering with airline personnel can result in civil penalties of up to $37,000 per violation.

Kupfersmid praised the professionalism of the Delta crew throughout the ordeal. “They did what they could do,” she said. “Staff was great and we were able to safely get him off and no one was harmed.”

As airlines continue to face challenges with in-flight disruptions, incidents like this highlight the importance of quick action, passenger cooperation, and robust enforcement protocols.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Similar Incident

In April 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Tokyo (NRT) was marred by a disturbing mid-flight incident involving an intoxicated first-class passenger.

The man, seated in Delta One, reportedly removed his pants mid-flight, exposing himself to nearby travelers, including a family with a toddler. Despite multiple complaints, Delta’s crew response and post-flight actions have raised questions about policy enforcement.

The incident occurred several hours into Delta Air Lines Flight DL295 from Atlanta to Tokyo Narita (NRT), when a female passenger discovered a male traveler sitting pantsless in Delta One. She was returning to her seat with her 15-month-old daughter and was visibly disturbed by the exposure.

Witnesses noted the man had consumed roughly 6–7 glasses of wine before the incident. Flight attendants confronted him after multiple passenger reports and eventually threatened a diversion to Anchorage (ANC) unless he complied. Only then did the passenger retrieve his pants from an overhead bin and cover himself.

The situation caused significant distress to those nearby, particularly the family involved, who stated that the man’s behavior went unchecked for too long.

According to passenger accounts shared publicly, Delta’s initial crew response was firm. However, their tone reportedly softened after the man complied—despite visible signs of intoxication.

Some witnesses alleged that the individual held elite Medallion status with Delta Air Lines (DL), which may have influenced the crew’s handling of the matter.

The airline allowed the man to continue to his destination and disembark in Tokyo (NRT), without arrest or on-the-spot law enforcement intervention. Standard airline protocol was followed for documentation, but no formal penalties or consequences were communicated publicly.

Delta later performed a wellness check on the affected family but cited privacy rules as a reason for withholding further information regarding disciplinary action.

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