Delta plane diverted when unruly passenger undresses mid-flight

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Jul 8, 2025

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A Delta flight traveling from Atlanta to San Diego made an unplanned landing in Texas after a passenger began disrobing and had to be restrained.

One witness on the flight told San Diego’s NBC 7 she suspects drugs or alcohol may have been a factor in Saturday’s incident.

“He kept saying ‘I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna see my family,'” according to traveler Rodelyn Kupfersmid.

Passengers reportedly spent 30 minutes trying to calm the the unidentified man as he took off his shirt while screaming. The flight crew then announced that DL731 was being diverted to Dallas-Fort Worth roughly two hours into the trip.

Authorities reportedly removed the man from the aircraft without incident once the plane landed. The flight continued to California after a 90-minute delay and safely reached its destination.

“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior as safety for our customers and crew always comes first,” a Delta representative said in a statement to the Daily News. “We thank our customers for their patience, and we apologize for the delay in their travels.”

It’s unclear if any charges have been filed against the disruptive passenger.