United flight returns to airport after passenger allegedly rushes cockpit

A flight from Dulles International Airport in Virginia was forced to return after takeoff Monday night, when a passenger allegedly became “violent” and refused to comply with crew instructions, according to multiple reports.

“We had a passenger becoming violent. No weapons involved. He’s restrained by other passengers now, though,” the plane’s pilot told air traffic control in a recording published by USA Today.

“We don’t know his mental health condition. Sounds like he’s restrained for now. We just need to get on the ground,” the pilot added.

NBC News released additional air traffic recordings where the pilot said the passenger had tried to rush the cockpit. Passengers also told the news network that the man said he had a bomb and that fellow passengers restrained the man and checked him for a bomb as the plane flew back.

United Airlines officials have released little information, outside of the fact that the flight returned because of an unruly passenger.  The Boeing 737 originally left Dulles after 10 p.m. Monday night with 33 passengers heading to Denver but had to return about 30 minutes into the flight.

A Dulles Airport spokesman told The Washington Post that the plane took off once again for Denver at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday.