Flight to Washington, D.C., diverted after Level 4 disruption, passenger tried to breach flight deck

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he was briefed on the flight diversion due to the "Level 4 disruption on board."

By Joseph Weber

Published: February 23, 2023 9:18am

Updated: February 23, 2023 3:02pm

An American Airlines flight bound to Washington, D.C., was diverted Wednesday afternoon after a passenger tried to breach the cockpit.

The flight departed from Jacksonville, Florida, and was forced to land at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, in North Carolina.

American Eagle flight 3444 was diverted "due to a security concern involving an unruly customer," the airline told CBS News later Wednesday.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted Wednesday night that he had been briefed on the flight diversion due to a "Level 4 disruption on board."

A Level 4 disruption is an "attempted or actual breach of the flight deck," according to Federal Aviation Administration documents reviewed by the news outlet.

Local law enforcement removed the passenger at about 3:40 p.m., and the FBI agents from the ageny's Charlotte field office also responded to the incident. The flight was resumed after a security sweep.

The FAA said it was also investigating the incident, CBS also reports.