Drunk Delta Passenger Jailed Over Anchorage Diversion
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated September 28, 2026 
A South Carolina man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after his intoxicated and violent behaviour forced a Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 bound for Seoul to divert to Anchorage.
Michael Shane Orndoff Jr., 52, of Greenwood, South Carolina, was sentenced on 23 September 2026 in Anchorage for interfering with a flight crew.
The charge relates to events aboard Delta flight 27 in December 2025, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
The Flight to Seoul That Ended in Anchorage
Delta flight DL27 is a scheduled ultra long haul service from Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson to Seoul Incheon.
The route typically takes around 14 and a half hours and is flown by Delta’s fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
On this occasion the aircraft never reached South Korea.
Court documents show the crew diverted to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport after a single passenger’s conduct became a threat to the safety of the flight.
How the Incident Unfolded
The trouble began early. Roughly one hour after departure, Orndoff had already consumed between four and six large glasses of wine.
He became intoxicated and belligerent towards crew and fellow passengers.
He began leaning over and breathing on a female passenger seated next to him. Around this point, cabin crew refused him any further alcohol.
Orndoff then attempted to persuade other passengers to buy drinks on his behalf. One of those he approached was a minor.
When that failed, he stole a bottle of wine from a service cart and locked himself in a lavatory.
He emerged a short time later holding the empty bottle, returned to his seat and continued to harass those around him.
Pilots Secure the Flight Deck and Divert to Anchorage
With the situation escalating, the pilots locked themselves in the cockpit and took the decision to divert to Anchorage.
The female passenger seated beside Orndoff walked to the front of the aircraft and asked a crew member for a different seat.
Orndoff chased her forward, pounded on the cockpit door and demanded more alcohol.
It took several passengers and crew members working together to restrain him with zip ties.
Airport police boarded the aircraft once it landed in Anchorage and escorted him off.
Hours after he stole the bottle of wine, his blood alcohol concentration still measured 0.192.
That is more than double the 0.08 limit for driving across most of the United States.
The Aircraft Involved
The Aviation Hub’s aircraft database lists N520DN as an Airbus A350-900 operated by Delta Air Lines.
The airframe carries manufacturer serial number 654 and joined the Delta fleet in April 2024, making it around two and a half years old.
N520DN is configured with 275 seats and is one of several A350s that rotate through the Atlanta to Seoul flying, according to Flightradar24 data for DL27.
Why Anchorage Makes Sense
Anchorage is a natural diversion point for transpacific traffic.
Flights between the eastern United States and North Asia route close to Alaska on great circle tracks, which places Ted Stevens Anchorage International within reach for much of the crossing.
The airport is also one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world.
It has long runways, round the clock operations and federal law enforcement on hand, all of which make it well suited to handling a widebody diversion involving a disruptive passenger.
For Delta, the diversion will have carried a significant cost.
An unplanned stop on a long haul sector brings fuel, landing fees, potential crew duty time limits and knock on disruption for hundreds of passengers.
What Officials Said After the Anchorage Sentencing
US Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska said such cases are becoming far too frequent.
“Regrettably, events such as this have become all too common,” he said.
“Air travel is an essential mode of transportation, especially for Alaskans, and we remain committed to ensuring that every passenger can fly without fear of belligerent and dangerous behavior.”
Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office stressed the potential consequences of Orndoff’s actions.
“While onboard a commercial aircraft, Mr. Orndoff’s violent and disruptive behavior jeopardized the safety of the flight crew and his fellow passengers,” he said.
“Interfering with a flight crew is a federal crime that can have catastrophic consequences. The FBI will continue to investigate crimes aboard aircraft, pursue justice for victims, and help ensure the safety and security of all travelers.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Airport Police and Fire Department.
Assistant US Attorney Mandy Mackenzie prosecuted the case.
A Wider Problem for Airlines
This case adds to a growing list of disruptive passenger incidents that The Aviation Hub has reported on in recent months.
Alcohol remains a common factor, and cabin crew are often the first and only line of defence at 35,000 feet.
Interfering with a flight crew is a serious federal offence in the United States.
The two year prison term handed down in Anchorage sends a clear message that the consequences extend well beyond being escorted off an aircraft.
For the passengers on DL27, a journey to Seoul became an unscheduled stop in Anchorage. For Orndoff, it has ended with a prison sentence.
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