Politicians always have to watch their back. They never know when something terrible could happen.
And now a plane carrying four Congressmen suffered a flight-ending emergency.
Mid-Flight Chaos on Congressional Shuttle
A flight ferrying four Arizona lawmakers to the nation’s capital for a pivotal vote on halting the government shutdown veered off course after a “disruptive passenger” sparked turmoil, ultimately proclaiming to everyone aboard, “We live in a fascist state.”
Emergency Diversion and Passenger Removal
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) shared on X Tuesday that the American Airlines journey, also carrying GOP colleagues Reps. Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar from Arizona, executed an “emergency stop in Kansas City” when an agitated traveler created havoc shortly after departing Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The aircraft had logged roughly 2 hours and 41 minutes airborne before rerouting to Kansas City International Airport, touching down securely near 6:15 p.m., per FlightAware data.
Footage captured by a fellow traveler post-landing depicts Kansas City officers entering the Airbus A320 to remove an unnamed woman. As authorities guided her away, she voiced remorse to passengers before delivering her final remark: “We live in a fascist state,” she told the flight.
About an hour later, the jet resumed its path, arriving at Reagan National Airport by 9:01 p.m. Stanton commended the Kansas City Police Department “for handling the situation professionally and without incident.”
The exact nature of the passenger’s outburst remains unclear, but American Airlines attributed the detour to “a disruptive customer.”
“On Nov. 11, American Airlines flight 1218, with service from Phoenix (PHX) to Washington, DC (DCA), diverted to Kansas City (MCI) due to a disruptive customer,” the carrier stated to KSHB 41.
“Law enforcement met the flight and removed the customer, and the flight later re-departed for DCA, where it landed normally. We thank our customers for their patience and our crew members for their professionalism.”
Shutdown Ends Amid Lawmakers’ Journey
Stanton noted he was en route to oppose the Republican continuing resolution when the detour occurred, while his three Arizona Republican counterparts pushed for its passage to terminate the shutdown.
On Wednesday, President Trump enacted the measure concluding the 43-day impasse—the lengthiest in U.S. annals—following House approval that morning.
The chamber approved the Senate’s funding package 222-209, reinstating salaries for federal workers and air traffic controllers while bolstering aid for nutrition initiatives.
The bill at last “reopens the government, restores critical services, and puts an end to the needless hardship Democrats have inflicted on the country,” declared House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.).
