MIAMI— Alaska Airlines (AS) Flight 305 was placed under cockpit lockdown at Miami International Airport (MIA) on Sunday evening (August 9, 2026) after the pilots reported that passengers had made threats during taxi.
The Boeing 737-800 had pushed back for its six-hour flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) when the crew stopped the aircraft and initiated a security procedure.
The incident involved Alaska Airlines’ two passengers who were reportedly disruptive while the aircraft was preparing for departure.
The airline said the aircraft returned to the gate, where law enforcement met the flight and removed the passengers from the aircraft.
Alaska Airlines Flight 305 Returns to the Gate
Air traffic control recordings captured the crew notifying controllers about the disturbance and requesting a cockpit lockdown.
The pilot said, “We have a customer disturbance on board right now with threats coming from customers,” before informing controllers that the aircraft had stopped and the engine was being shut down.
The crew later reported that flight attendants had received threats and that they had been told a passenger had threatened to take over the aircraft.
The pilot subsequently confirmed that law enforcement assistance was required as the aircraft returned toward gate E6.
Because the pushback tug had already disconnected, ground personnel had to reconnect it before the Boeing 737-800 could be moved back to the gate.
Passengers were temporarily removed from the aircraft while authorities investigated the reported threats, PYOK flagged.
Miami Police Find No Threat
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded at approximately 6:40 p.m. after a flight attendant reported possible suspicious activity involving passengers.
Out of caution, officers deplaned the passengers while they investigated the circumstances surrounding the report.
Authorities ultimately determined that there was no credible threat. The two individuals involved were rebooked on another flight, while the aircraft was cleared and passengers were permitted to continue their journey.
Alaska Airlines said the two passengers were removed from Flight 305 and temporarily banned from flying with the airline.
The carrier also apologized for the disruption and praised its employees for their handling of the incident.
Cockpit Lockdown Protocol Explained
A cockpit lockdown is designed to protect the flight deck when crew members believe its security could be compromised.
Once activated, the reinforced cockpit door remains secured while communication between pilots and cabin crew continues through approved communication systems.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) uses a four-level framework to categorize unruly passenger behavior, ranging from disruptive conduct to an actual or attempted breach of the cockpit.
A reported threat to take control of an aircraft can prompt a precautionary response even when investigators later determine that no credible threat existed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to track unruly passenger incidents in the United States and can propose civil penalties of up to $43,658 for individual violations.
The agency says the rate of such incidents has fallen by more than 80% from the record levels seen in early 2021, although disruptive and threatening behavior remains a safety concern.
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