New Zealand / Transport

Unruly passenger forces flight to divert

20:44 pm on 2 January 2017

Police have arrested a badly behaved passenger who forced a United Airlines flight to divert to Auckland.

Auckland Airport Photo: 123RF

Flight UA870 from Sydney to San Francisco was diverted when crew had problems with a passenger on New Year's Day.

The police said a 42-year-old foreign national was arrested on arrival yesterday afternoon and referred to immigration officials.

Passengers were put up in hotels in Auckland until their flight could resume.