Unruly Frontier Airlines Passenger Restrained Inflight After Kicking Seats & Cracking Window

On a Frontier Airlines

flight headed for Houston earlier this week, a man had a violent outburst that included kicking seats, trying to smash a plane window, and finally cracking the Plexiglass of the window before fellow passengers physically detained him, according to ABC News. The incident occurred on Flight 4856, which had just departed from Denver International Airport

, approximately 20 minutes into its flight to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport

.

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

Violence escalates mid-flight

Victoria Clark, an onboard passenger who saw the incident, said the disturbance started when a female passenger sitting in front of the guy asked to change seats. The man’s reaction was quick and forceful. “I started having a panic attack,” Clark told ABC News. “It could be a terrorist attack.“

The man got up and started hitting the window as things got out of hand, and was eventually able to crack the Plexiglass. The action frightened the other passengers. The man started acting strangely, ranting in several languages and splattering blood all over the place as he continued to smash the window with his fists, according to Clark.

Photo: Carlos Yudica | Shutterstock

Passengers step in to restrain the man

Flight attendants called for assistance to seek any law enforcement personnel among the passengers, as there was no air marshal on board. Tanner Phillips, a former military member, quickly responded, stepping into action to help restrain the individual. “This guy was just going crazy,” Phillips told ABC13 Houston. “He was screaming in multiple languages, punching out the window and laying back and trying to kick it out. I wanted to help as much as I could.“

The man was physically restrained by Phillips and a few other passengers, who bound him to his seat using boot laces and zip ties. According to Phillips, the struggle was challenging and required many people to contain the passenger and stop him from fleeing. As the jet resumed its journey to Houston, the flight crew and other passengers were compelled to hold onto the guy for almost two hours rather than make an emergency landing. The man was seriously injured; Phillips reported that blood was all over the window and ceiling where the Plexiglass had sliced his hands.

Related

Frontier Will Launch 3 New Routes This Spring

Frontier Airlines will have to compete with American Airlines and United Airlines on two out of the three routes.

Frontier reportedly decline to press charges

FlightAware data shows that the plane made a safe landing in Houston at around 23:00 local time. The Houston Police Department (HPD) was present to handle the issue. The wheelchair-bound individual was led off the aircraft by law enforcement. ABC News and The New York Post reported that Frontier Airlines decided not to file charges at the scene, and the man’s identity was not made public right away. Simple Flying has reached out to Frontier Airlines for additional comments.

FBI to investigate

FOX 26 reported that, according to the police, the man tried to speak with a woman in the row in front of him, but she didn’t respond. Thus, the man began to punch the seat in front of him and the plane window. The Houston Police Department verified that the FBI had assumed responsibility for the incident’s investigation. Passengers said the man seemed to be experiencing a mental health crisis, according to the television station. The outlet reported that because Frontier Airlines declined to press charges, there was no indication that anything would happen to the man.

Photo: nyker | Shutterstock

Unruly behavior on the rise

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 120 cases of unruly passenger conduct between January 1 and February 2, 2025, which underscores the rising concern over such behavior. The FAA received 720 reports of unruly passenger incidents in March 2021, the most since 2017. In 2023, 2,075 unruly passenger cases were reported, but only 512 investigations were initiated and only 402 enforcement actions taken.

These outbursts, which frequently cause increased stress and potential danger on flights, have prompted requests for stricter security systems and more trained professionals onboard.