SubscribeA Delta Air Lines flight was forced to return to Houston shortly after take-off on 18 February 2026 when an unruly passenger moved toward the cockpit. Delta flight returns to Hobby Airport after unruly passenger attempts to breach the cockpitAs CNN reported, the incident occurred on Delta flight 2557, operating a Boeing 717 with 85 passengers and five crew members on board. The pilot declared an emergency shortly after take-off from Houston’s Hobby Airport, reporting an attempted cockpit breach to air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018 required airlines to install secondary cockpit barriers to protect the cockpit when the cockpit door must be opened during flight. Southwest Airlines operated its first flight with secondary cockpit barriers installed on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 in August of last year, in compliance with the original requirement.

Source: Ethiopian News February 19, 2026 10:56 UTC