A passenger aboard United Airlines flight allegedly became violent after biting and kicking a flight attendant who refused to serve her additional alcohol aboard United Airlines Flight 18. This incident occurred on Sept. 8, 2026, on a Boeing 777-200ER flying from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) in Italy to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey.
Passenger Denied Additional Alcohol After Multiple Drinks
Kristina Kedysheva, 37, was travelling first-class when she had already been served multiple drinks by flight attendants. When she asked for more drinks, the cabin crew denied her request. She allegedly reacted violently, prompting five flight attendants to restrain her. During the struggle, she allegedly bit one flight attendant on the wrist and kicked them in the stomach, continuing to resist the restraints for another three hours.
According to the New York Post, an FBI affidavit states that she was slurring words and tried to reach the aircraft’s rear door after ignoring the captain’s orders to return to her seat.
The aircraft diverted to Bangor International Airport in Maine. Upon arrival, Kedysheva was taken into custody. She admitted to drinking three glasses of red wine and a whiskey and cola before being denied more drinks. Videos later retrieved from the suspect’s phone reportedly showed a recording of her arguing with the flight crew.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Commercial Aircraft
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), one in every 355 flights globally experienced issues with unruly passengers in 2025. Noncompliance with crew instructions was the most frequently reported descriptor, while some incidents also involved passenger intoxication. Severely intoxicated passengers may engage in unruly or violent behaviour, potentially threatening the safety of crew members and other passengers.
Airline crews are trained to identify signs of extreme intoxication or disorientation among passengers. This usually starts before they board the aircraft, where cabin crew scans for possible disorientation in passengers. Additionally, strict rules are in place to ensure all passengers are fit to fly. However, these are not always effective. Therefore, it is important to know safe ways to handle situations on board involving inebriated passengers. Passengers should avoid confrontation with unruly travellers and instead alert the cabin crew who are trained to manage disruptive behaviour. This ensures a safer flight for all passengers.
Should airlines introduce stricter alcohol policies to prevent unruly passenger incidents, or are current safety measures enough? Let us know in the comments!
