A flight was unexpectedly diverted after a passenger allegedly exposed himself and urinated in the aisle, leaving fellow travellers in shock.
The bizarre incident, captured in images that have since gone viral, shows the man dropping his trousers and relieving himself just steps away from the restroom.
An eyewitness described the scene, stating that the man appeared “hammered” and seemingly unaware of his actions.
“I’m pretty sure he had no clue what he did or what happened!” the witness wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of the man in a red cap and pink T-shirt urinating on the floor.
“They say he flew all night from Portland and got this flight out…. Via a quick landing in Buffalo to take him into custody!! 1 1/2 hours of my wasted time! Not counting the AA phone calls to explain as a witness… S*** happens, well no s*** but did p*** like a racehorse on a flat rock.”
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the passenger, identified as 25-year-old Neil McCarthy from Oregon, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.
McCarthy now faces a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 (roughly £3,936) fine.
The incident occurred on July 3, 2024, when the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA) Police were called to respond to the report made by an American Airlines flight crew.
McCarthy made an appearance before US Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J and was later released.
The flight, originally headed to Manchester, New Hampshire, was diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport to handle the situation.
The shocking episode not only disrupted the flight but also caused significant inconvenience to passengers, who had to endure the unexpected detour and delay.