CHICAGO — Police met a United Airlines flight upon its arrival at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Monday following reports of inappropriate behavior by a male passenger in mid-air.
On the afternoon of Monday, October 26, 2026, United Airlines Flight UA516 departed Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) bound for Chicago, Illinois (ORD). The brief 90-minute flight was operated by an Airbus A319, registered as N889UA.
According to reports, the incident occurred while the aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet. A female passenger seated in the middle or aisle seat was reportedly left shocked after discovering that the man seated next to her in the window seat was masturbating.
Upon being notified of the passenger’s actions, the flight crew immediately contacted ground operational control to request that law enforcement and airport authorities meet the aircraft upon arrival.
After landing on Runway 10R at O’Hare, the aircraft taxied to Terminal 3, where police officers were waiting at Gate G12 to meet the flight and take the individual for questioning. Distracting or engaging in lewd conduct on a commercial aircraft falls under federal jurisdiction and can lead to severe penalties, including federal charges and banishment from the airline.
