United Airlines Mistakes Passenger, Ejects Wrong Woman Mid-Flight

On August 29, 2024, United Airlines flight UA1627 from Las Vegas to Washington Dulles diverted to Baltimore due to weather, stranding passengers on the tarmac for five hours. Amid the delay, a flight attendant accused an Asian woman of misconduct, leading to her removal, though she was seated seven rows away from the actual individual involved.
The woman, a realtor returning from a conference, was reading her Kindle during the delay. Despite her lack of involvement, she was denied reboarding after the diversion. This incident highlights concerns about racial profiling and the accuracy of airline crew decisions during in-flight incidents.
Witnesses, including an off-duty United employee, supported the woman's account, emphasizing the need for improved identification protocols to prevent such errors.