A LOT Polish Airlines flight, en route from Hungary to South Korea, was forced to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan after a South Korean woman’s disruptive behavior onboard, as reported by The Korea Times.
The unidentified woman’s expletive-laden rant reportedly posed operational difficulties for the flight crew, leading to her arrest upon landing at Astana airport in Kazakhstan.
“The disruptions and swearing continued, causing a lot of confusion,” shared a South Korean passenger on the flight, as quoted by Hankook Ilbo. “We were concerned that we would be detained in Kazakhstan instead of arriving in Korea to settle our affairs.”
The incident occurred aboard LOT Polish Airlines flight LO2001, scheduled to arrive at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. However, it was diverted to Kazakhstan, delaying passengers for almost five hours. Among the 183 passengers onboard, videos circulating on social media, as well as YTN channel, showed fellow passengers attempting to restrain the unruly woman.
Despite efforts by the crew to intervene, the situation persisted, leaving passengers anxious about their travel plans. The motive behind the woman’s outburst remains unclear.
Local media reported that the South Korean embassy in Kazakhstan is collaborating with local authorities to investigate the incident. The Independent has sought comment from LOT Polish Airlines.
This incident echoes a similar event last year when a passenger onboard a LOT Polish Airlines flight from New York to Warsaw removed his pants and urinated on the plane’s door, highlighting the challenges airlines face in managing disruptive behavior mid-flight.