A Tokyo-bound All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight bound for the United States made an unexpected return to Tokyo after a 55-year-old intoxicated American passenger bit a cabin attendant during the flight.
The incident, described by an ANA spokesperson on Wednesday, as occurring while the passenger was “heavily drunk,” resulted in the crew member sustaining mild injuries.
With 159 passengers on board, the pilots decided to turn back over the Pacific to Haneda airport, where the unruly passenger was handed over to the police.
According to Japanese broadcaster TBS, the passenger claimed to have no recollection of his behaviour during the investigation.
The incident stirred reactions on social media, with some drawing humorous parallels to the “beginning of a zombie movie.”
Quest Times further reports that others expressed concern over a series of recent aviation incidents in Japan, including a near-collision at Haneda airport, a wing tip collision in Hokkaido, and an ANA flight returning due to a cracked cockpit window.
Aviation expert, Doug Drury, explained that incidents like wing strikes are not uncommon, often attributed to airports handling planes larger than originally designed for.
He suggested that “The cracked window incident may have been caused by a faulty window heat system as the temperatures are quite extreme at altitude.”