Somewhere over the Atlantic, the fragile social contract of shared flight fractured when a first-class passenger, denied further alcohol, turned the cabin of United Flight 18 into a scene of physical confrontation. A 37-year-old Russian woman was removed from the aircraft after allegedly biting a flight attendant and resisting restraint, prompting the captain to divert the Milan-to-Newark crossing to Bangor, Maine. The incident joins a long and troubling record of mid-air disruptions in which the confined intimacy of flight amplifies human volatility into something requiring federal interventi
United flight diverted after first-class passenger allegedly bites attendant
A flight attendant was bitten on the wrist during the altercation; the passenger was detained by US Customs and Border Patrol.
She bit a flight attendant and fought those trying to restrain her
Mark
So she was denied a drink and that's what set her off?
Mimi
That's when things escalated, yes. But the crew said she'd already had three drinks over a few hours and appeared drunk. The refusal seems to have been the trigger, but the underlying issue was her level of intoxication.
Luke
We should be careful here—we have the crew's account that she appeared drunk, and her own admission she had three drinks. But we don't have a breathalyzer result or medical assessment. "Appeared drunk" is subjective.
Mark
What about the door? That sounds like it could have been genuinely dangerous.
Mimi
A passenger saw her move toward the rear exterior door and grabbed her out of concern she might try to open it. That's what another witness reported to police.
Luke
But did she actually try to open it, or was she just moving in that direction? The crew's account says she "attempted to tamper with a door," but under questioning she denied that. We have the passenger's fear, but not confirmation of intent.
Mark
She bit someone though. That's not ambiguous.
Mimi
A flight attendant was bitten on the wrist during the restraint attempt. That's in the crew's statement and it's a physical injury.
Luke
Yes, but she denied it. So we have a credible account from trained crew with a documented injury, against her denial. The injury supports the crew's version, but it's worth naming that she disputes it.
Mark
What happens to her now?
Mimi
She was detained by US Customs and Border Patrol when the plane landed. The investigation is ongoing with authorities.
Le Pouls
- A refusal to serve more alcohol to an already intoxicated first-class passenger ignited a confrontation that would force an entire transatlantic flight off course.
- A fellow passenger spotted the woman moving toward a rear exterior door and physically intervened — a moment that transformed a cabin dispute into a potential safety emergency.
- As crew and passengers worked to restrain her, she bit a flight attendant on the wrist and fought those attempting to secure her, raising the stakes to criminal assault.
- The captain alerted the FBI and diverted the aircraft to Bangor International Airport, where US Customs and Border Patrol took the passenger into custody upon landing.
- Under questioning, the passenger denied every allegation — the biting, the door approach, the threats — while acknowledging she had consumed three drinks, leaving her account in direct conflict with multiple crew witnesses and a physical injury.
Somewhere over the Atlantic, the fragile social contract of shared flight fractured when a first-class passenger, denied further alcohol, turned the cabin of United Flight 18 into a scene of physical confrontation. A 37-year-old Russian woman was removed from the aircraft after allegedly biting a flight attendant and resisting restraint, prompting the captain to divert the Milan-to-Newark crossing to Bangor, Maine. The incident joins a long and troubling record of mid-air disruptions in which the confined intimacy of flight amplifies human volatility into something requiring federal intervention.
On a Tuesday afternoon crossing of the Atlantic, United Flight 18 from Milan to Newark became the stage for a confrontation that ended with an unscheduled landing in Maine and a passenger in federal custody. The trouble began when a 37-year-old Russian woman traveling in first class, Kristina Kedysheva, was refused additional alcoholic drinks by cabin crew. She had already consumed several beverages over the course of the flight and appeared intoxicated. What followed, according to the lead flight attendant, was a swift turn toward aggression.
The situation grew more alarming when another passenger noticed Kedysheva moving toward a rear exterior door and, fearing she might attempt to open it, physically intervened. Her response was to begin yelling. As crew members and able-bodied passengers worked to restrain her, she resisted, biting a flight attendant on the wrist in the struggle. The combination of physical assault and concern about the door led staff to notify the FBI, and the captain made the call to divert to Bangor International Airport, where the plane landed safely and Kedysheva was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Patrol.
United Airlines confirmed the diversion, citing an unruly passenger. Kedysheva, however, told a different story under police questioning — denying the biting, denying any approach to the door, and placing blame on a female flight attendant for starting the chaos. She did acknowledge drinking three alcoholic beverages. Her account now stands against the testimony of multiple crew members and the physical evidence of the wound, as authorities continue their investigation.
A United Airlines flight crossing the Atlantic on Tuesday afternoon became the site of an escalating confrontation that ended with an emergency landing in Maine and a passenger in federal custody. Flight 18 was en route from Milan to Newark when a 37-year-old Russian woman traveling in first class, identified as Kristina Kedysheva, requested additional alcoholic beverages from cabin staff. When attendants declined to serve her, the situation shifted. According to the lead flight attendant's account to investigators, Kedysheva became aggressive and began assaulting crew members.
The disturbance intensified when another passenger noticed Kedysheva moving toward the rear exterior door of the aircraft and, fearing she might attempt to open it, physically grabbed her. This intervention prompted Kedysheva to begin yelling. As flight crew and other able-bodied passengers attempted to restrain her, she resisted forcefully. During this struggle, she bit a flight attendant on the wrist and continued fighting those trying to place her in restraints.
Crew members noted that Kedysheva had consumed multiple drinks over the course of several hours and appeared intoxicated. The escalating nature of the incident—combined with the physical assault and the concern about the door—prompted airline staff to alert the FBI. The captain made the decision to divert the aircraft to Bangor International Airport in Maine, where it landed safely. Upon arrival, Kedysheva was removed from the plane and taken into custody by US Customs and Border Patrol.
United Airlines confirmed the diversion in a statement, describing an unruly passenger as the cause of the unscheduled landing. When questioned by police, Kedysheva's account diverged sharply from the crew's. She denied biting any staff member, denied attempting to tamper with the door, and denied making threats. She maintained she had done nothing wrong and blamed a female flight attendant for initiating the chaos. However, she did acknowledge drinking three alcoholic beverages during the flight.
The incident underscores the recurring challenge airlines face with disruptive passengers, particularly those whose behavior escalates after alcohol consumption. The quick response by crew and fellow passengers—recognizing the potential danger and acting to contain the situation—prevented what could have become a more serious emergency. The case now sits with authorities as the investigation continues, with the passenger's denials standing against multiple crew accounts and the physical evidence of the bite wound.
Citations marquantes
When flight crew and able-bodied people attempted to place Ms Kedysheva in restraints, she fought them off— Lead flight attendant's account to investigators
Kedysheva denied biting staff, attempting to tamper with the door, or making threats, and claimed a female flight attendant caused the chaos— Kedysheva's statement to police
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