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A Lufthansa flight from San Francisco to Munich was diverted to Boston after a passenger allegedly attacked another traveler
The unruly passenger was handcuffed to her seat until landing, according to Massachusetts State Police
The FAA has recorded 687 unruly passenger incidents so far this year
An international flight from the United States to Germany was diverted because a passenger allegedly assaulted another traveler mid-flight.
Lufthansa flight 459 departed San Francisco International Airport for Munich just after 10:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 10, according to FlightAware. About three hours into the flight, while the Airbus A380-800 was flying over northern Manitoba, Canada, the aircraft made a sharp turn south back toward the U.S. It initially traveled toward Chicago before rerouting to Boston.
A Lufthansa commercial aircraft
Credit: Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police confirmed troopers were notified of a disturbance on the flight around 8 a.m. local time.
“A female party allegedly attacked another passenger and was handcuffed to her seat,” the statement said. The flight was subsequently diverted to Boston Logan International Airport.
According to authorities, it is unknown if any injuries were sustained. Police confirmed the incident remains under active investigation. The spokesperson was unable to confirm if the suspect was arrested.
“The reason for diversion was an unruly passenger who posed a threat to the safe continuation of the flight,” a Lufthansa spokesperson told local outlets WCBV and NBC Boston. “The safety of all passengers and crew on board is always Lufthansa’s top priority.”
Boston Logan International Airport
Credit: Getty
When the plane landed, the passenger was removed from the aircraft, along with her luggage, according to the airline. The plane continued traveling to Munich after refueling. FlightAware reports the plane is expected to land just before 11:30 p.m. on June 11. There are 508 passengers on board.
PEOPLE reached out to Lufthansa for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been 687 unruly passenger reports recorded so far this year, including 163 incidents in May 2026 alone. The rate of unruly passenger events has steadily decreased by 80% since record highs in 2021, but the agency reports a recent increase.
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Failing to follow crew instructions or engaging in violent or disruptive behavior can result in legal consequences and serious fines. Unruly passenger incidents are referred to the FBI and local law enforcement agencies when warranted.
Additionally, the FAA can propose fines of up to $43,658 per violation. Last year, the FAA levied a total of $2.3 million in fines against unruly passengers.
Read the original article on People