A Delta Air Lines flight returned to O’Hare Airport moments after taking off Wednesday. A Delta spokesperson said pilots grounded the jet in order to have “an unruly passenger removed.”
TMZ reported the passenger was Everson Griffen, a four-time Pro Bowler for the Minnesota Vikings. Griffen was removed for allegedly causing a disturbance.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end,” airline officials said in a statement. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta.”
Delta said Flight 1902 from O’Hare Airport to Minneapolis-St. Paul returned to Chicago at 12:09 p.m., and the passenger was taken off the plane.
The flight took off again at 2:35 p.m. and landed at Minnesota-St. Paul at 4:17 p.m.
Griffen played in the NFL from 2010 to 2021and recorded 85.5 sacks in 170 career games. He spent time with the Lions and Cowboys, but played most of his career in Minnesota.
Griffen received care after having a mental health episode in 2018 while playing for the Vikings.