Plane Forced to Land After Passenger Wearing 15 Masks Claims LGBTQ+ People Are Giving Him Cancer

A routine domestic flight from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport to Newark, New Jersey, was forced to make an emergency landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Friday morning after a passenger’s erratic and inflammatory behavior alarmed both crew and fellow travelers. The passenger, described by witnesses as wearing “no less than 15 face masks,” began to shout that LGBTQ+ individuals were responsible for giving him cancer, among other bizarre and distressing claims .

The disruption began shortly after takeoff. Seth Evans, a passenger seated across the aisle, recounted to The Minnesota Star Tribune that the man’s conduct was erratic from the onset, oscillating between playing Candy Crush on his phone and erupting into loud rants. The passenger reportedly yelled about being “gang chased,” “cooked,” and “radiated” by the LGBTQ+ community, which he alleged was causing him to develop cancer. He also shouted “Trump is here,” further heightening the confusion and distress among those on board .

The situation intensified when the man declared, “the plane is going down,” prompting the flight crew to take immediate action. The captain made the decision to divert the aircraft to Chicago, where authorities would be better equipped to safely manage the situation .

Upon arrival at O’Hare International, local police boarded the aircraft. The disruptive passenger was handcuffed and escorted off the plane without further incident. U.S. Marshals and law enforcement officials interviewed passengers and crew to gather a full account of the episode .

A spokesperson for Sun Country Airlines released a statement confirming, “The flight landed without incident as a precaution, in response to a disruptive passenger. The passenger in question was turned over to law enforcement and removed from the aircraft. We appreciate our passengers’ patience during the interruption to their travels and the flight is continuing on to Newark this morning” .

The FBI has since taken over the investigation, as the incident occurred during an interstate flight, falling under federal jurisdiction .

Passengers on the diverted flight, including eyewitnesses like Seth Evans, expressed relief that the situation was handled swiftly and that law enforcement responded without escalation. Many passengers, however, were left shaken by the ordeal and troubled by the overtly hateful statements made during the incident .

Sun Country Airlines and federal authorities have yet to release further details about the ongoing investigation or whether charges will be filed against the passenger. Advocates urge continued vigilance and support for all travelers, especially those from marginalized communities, and for authorities to treat incidents of bias-motivated harassment with the seriousness they deserve .