A Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Houston experienced a terrifying incident on Tuesday, February 4th, when a passenger allegedly began punching the aircraft’s windows. According to reports from Fox 26 and ABC News, fellow passengers had to restrain the man mid-flight.
The incident unfolded approximately 20 minutes into Frontier Flight 4856. Police reports indicate that the disruptive passenger initially attempted to engage with a woman seated in the row ahead of him. When she didn’t respond, he began punching the seat in front of him and then the plane’s window.
Passenger Tanner Phillips, interviewed on ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, described the chaotic scene: “He was screaming in multiple languages, punching at the window, lying back, and trying to kick it out.” The force of the blows caused visible damage to the window, leaving cracks in the glass and traces of the passenger’s blood.
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A Frontier Airlines plane. Image used for illustrative purposes only.
Several male passengers intervened, eventually managing to restrain the man and secure him back in his seat. “It took a couple of guys to get his arms secured,” Phillips added. Improvised restraints, including shoestrings, belts, and headphones, were used to hold the passenger down. He reportedly remained calm for the remainder of the 2-hour and 30-minute flight.
Upon landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 11:10 p.m., Houston Police Department (HPD) officers conducted a welfare check on the passenger and questioned him. Surprisingly, Frontier Airlines reportedly declined to press charges.
Another passenger, Jessica Brown, described the ordeal to Fox 26 as “absolutely chaotic” and “the most terrifying thing I’ve ever been through.” She expressed relief that the passengers were able to intervene quickly, preventing further damage to the window.
Thirteen-year-old Chloe Starcevic, also a passenger on the flight, shared her fear with Fox 26: “Me and my mom were shaking the whole time, and we were praying the whole time. I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
This incident comes on the heels of several other recent aviation incidents, including a plane and helicopter collision in Washington D.C., a medical jet crash in Philadelphia, a collision between two planes on the tarmac at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and a plane that caught fire before takeoff in Houston. These events highlight ongoing concerns about air travel safety.
A Frontier Airlines representative referred inquiries about the incident to the Houston Police Department. The HPD has not yet responded to requests for further information.
