A United Airlines flight out of New Jersey was forced to divert to Virginia after an unruly passenger caused a major disturbance on board, according to the Federal Aviation administration (FAA).
United Flight 1551 was headed to Guatemala City on Thursday, May 21 when, according to Air Traffic Control audio obtained by ABC News, a passenger tried to open the door of the plane mid-flight. In the recording, a crew member says the passenger attempted to open cabin “door 2L at 36,000 feet” and “assaulted a fellow passenger.”
The incident prompted the plane to divert to Washington Dulles Airport in Virginia.
A United Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE that the flight “landed safely” at the airport and was met by law enforcement. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. Following the incident, the flight was canceled and a replacement flight was scheduled for Friday morning. Customers were provided overnight accommodations, according to the airline. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
FlightAware data shows the plane took off from Newark International Airport at 6:46 p.m. on Thursday, and landed at Washington Dulles Airport at 8:38 p.m., 3 hours before it was scheduled to land in Guatemala.
In a similar incident last month, a United flight from Germany to Chicago was forced to divert to Boston due to an unruly passenger.
“Massport Operations dispatched troopers to a United flight diverting to Logan Airport due to an unruly passenger,” Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said in a statement to PEOPLE. “The individual was restrained on the flight, but was cooperative by the time troopers boarded the plane.”
The unidentified passenger declined medical attention from the emergency medical services at the scene. He was then taken into custody by U.S. Customs officials, according to the MSP.
The Boeing 787, which was carrying 231 passengers and 12 crew members, later continued to Chicago, the airline said. The individual was sent to Massachusetts General Hospital after being placed in custody, and police said they will issue a summons for them to appear in court at a later date.