A United Airlines passenger allegedly attacked a flight attendant and attempted to open an aircraft door during a transatlantic flight from Italy to New York, forcing the Boeing 777 to divert to Maine. Court documents detail a prolonged struggle involving multiple people before law enforcement arrested the passenger after landing.
The incident occurred aboard United Airlines Flight UA18, traveling from Milan Malpensa Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. The Boeing 777-200ER was carrying 274 passengers and 13 crew members when the situation escalated, according to the reported court documents. Rather than continuing directly to New Jersey, the crew diverted the aircraft to Bangor International Airport in Maine at around midday.
The passenger was identified as 36-year-old Kristina Kedysheva, a Russian national who was traveling to New York for a party. According to the allegations, she had been drinking during the flight and became increasingly disruptive after flight attendants refused to provide additional alcohol. What followed reportedly turned into a physical confrontation that lasted for approximately three hours.
United Airlines Passenger Allegedly Reaches for Boeing 777 Door
According to the complaint, Kedysheva was allegedly slurring her speech and demanding more drinks before crew members stopped serving her alcohol. She reportedly began recording flight attendants on her phone and accused them of being racist after her requests were refused. The captain subsequently instructed her to return to her seat.
The situation became considerably more serious when Kedysheva allegedly attempted to reach the handle of a rear aircraft door. Five crew members and passengers ultimately restrained her, preventing her from reaching the door. Although an aircraft door cannot simply be opened at cruising altitude because of cabin pressure, attempting to interfere with an aircraft door represents an extremely serious safety concern and requires an immediate crew response.
The restraint itself reportedly became violent. Court documents allege that Kedysheva bit a flight attendant on the wrist and kicked the attendant in the stomach. The crew member reportedly suffered a shoulder injury and breathing difficulties. A passenger was also allegedly scratched badly enough to require medical treatment.
Three-Hour Struggle Forces Flight UA18 to Divert to Bangor
Even after being restrained, Kedysheva allegedly continued to thrash and struggle for roughly three hours. With the disturbance continuing and the crew declaring an emergency, the flight was diverted to Bangor International Airport rather than proceeding directly to Newark.
The diversion added a significant operational complication to a flight that had originated in Milan and was already crossing the Atlantic. Once the Boeing 777 landed safely in Bangor, law enforcement officers boarded the aircraft and removed the passenger.
United Airlines confirmed that Flight 18 landed safely in Bangor to deal with an unruly passenger. The airline said law enforcement met the aircraft, the customer was removed, and the flight subsequently continued to Newark Liberty International Airport.
For the passengers who remained onboard, the incident meant an unexpected interruption to their journey and a prolonged encounter with an unusually aggressive passenger. For the crew, however, the consequences were more serious, particularly given the reported injuries and the need to maintain control of the aircraft while dealing with the disturbance.
FBI Interviews Passenger After Bangor Arrest
After landing, Kedysheva was arrested by local police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, and FBI agents. She was subsequently interviewed by the FBI with assistance from a Russian interpreter.
During the interview, Kedysheva reportedly acknowledged drinking during the flight. She said she had consumed three glasses of red wine and a whiskey and cola during the first few hours of the journey. She claimed that the flight attendants became unnecessarily rude after refusing to serve her more alcohol.
Her account differed from the allegations contained in the complaint. Kedysheva reportedly blamed the confrontation partly on flight attendants and an Italian passenger who she said took her phone. She acknowledged that she might have scratched someone but denied biting anyone.
Kedysheva appeared in a Penobscot County, Maine court the following day. She was charged with interference with a flight crew member or attendant and assault. The allegations remain allegations, and the court proceedings will determine the legal outcome.
Unruly Passenger Incidents Continue to Disrupt Airlines
The United Airlines incident comes amid continuing concerns over unruly passenger behavior on commercial flights. Airlines and flight crews have increasingly faced situations involving intoxication, verbal abuse, physical attacks and attempts to interfere with aircraft operations.
For Flight UA18, the combination of alleged intoxication, physical violence and an attempt to reach an aircraft door crossed a particularly serious line. The diversion to Bangor allowed authorities to remove the passenger and enabled the aircraft to continue safely to Newark, but it also demonstrated how a single passenger can rapidly transform a routine international flight into a major operational and safety incident.
