AMSTERDAM- A KLM (KL) Boeing 777 departing Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) never left the ground on Tuesday night (November 25, 2025) after a passenger reported seeing a gun, called 911 from his seat, and opened an emergency exit during taxi.
The deployment of the slide forced an immediate return to the ramp and the full cancellation of the international flight.
All passengers were removed from the aircraft and rebooked on later services. Authorities confirmed that no weapon was found on board after their search of the cabin.
KLM Cancels Flight Over False Gun Claim
KLM Flight KL622 was taxiing for takeoff when 48-year-old passenger Johannes Van Heertum loudly claimed he saw another traveler carrying a gun, a statement heard by multiple passengers seated nearby.
According to police, officers initially responded to a “person armed” call. Crew reported the escalating disturbance to air traffic control, and as the aircraft returned toward Ramp 9, the individual ran to an exit door.
By the time nearby passengers attempted to restrain him, the door was already open, and the emergency slide had deployed onto one of the airport runways.
Police boarded the aircraft after it parked at the ramp and took Van Heertum into custody. EMTs evaluated him before officers charged him with reckless conduct, second-degree criminal damage to property, and interfering with security measures.
He was transported to Clayton County Jail, where he remains without bond. Reported by View from the Wing, radio communication from the cockpit suggested that the most effective solution was immediate police removal of the disruptive passenger.
Operational Fallout and Safety Protocols
Even when undamaged, repacking an emergency slide can cost about $12,000. Repair or replacement adds significantly to that figure.
The larger financial impact stems from taking a wide-body aircraft out of service, rebooking a full transatlantic load of passengers, providing hotel accommodations for stranded travelers, adjusting crew duty periods, and managing ripple disruptions across the airline’s schedule. Such events can cumulatively reach six-figure costs.
Passenger safety programs encourage reporting of suspicious behavior, yet unauthorized emergency equipment activation presents a risk to crew, passengers, and ground personnel.
In this case, the actions occurred while the aircraft was in motion, requiring decisive intervention from the crew and ATC to minimize danger. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Bottom Line
KLM began rebooking passengers shortly after the cancellation and initiated the required maintenance and inspection procedures for the Boeing 777.
Events of this type typically lead to internal airline reviews surrounding cabin response protocols, mental health-related disruptions, and handling of passenger-reported threats before takeoff.
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