China Airlines CI73 Turns Back to Gate After Drunk Passenger Harasses Woman

China Airlines (CI) removed an intoxicated passenger from a flight to Amsterdam late Tuesday night after he harassed a female traveler seated beside him, according to a report by Taiwan News. Flight CI73 was taxiing for departure from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at 11:10 p.m. when the disturbance began. The captain returned the aircraft to the gate rather than continue toward the runway, prioritizing passenger safety over the schedule.

Police confirmed the man was a foreign national who appeared to be drunk and had made the woman uncomfortable throughout boarding. He left the aircraft without resisting once officers arrived. The woman later told investigators she did not wish to press charges, and the flight departed nearly two hours behind schedule at 1:05 a.m. Wednesday.

Captain Halts Taxiing CI73 Over Mid-Flight Harassment

Chinese-language outlets identified the passenger as a Lithuanian national who grew increasingly agitated after boarding. According to a report by CNA, cabin crew told police he had been harassing the woman in the seat next to him well before the aircraft began its taxi to the runway. The purser alerted the captain once the harassment continued.

The captain decided passenger safety took priority over an on-time departure. He halted the taxiing aircraft and turned it back toward the terminal rather than proceed to takeoff, a decision multiple Taiwanese outlets described as a formal refusal of carriage. Passengers aboard shared video on social media showing crew members standing by in the aisle as the plane looped back to the gate.

Aviation Police Removed Passenger, Woman Declines to Press Charges

Officers from Taiwan’s Aviation Police Bureau boarded the aircraft once it returned to the gate. A deputy squad leader with the bureau’s security police division told reporters the agency received China Airlines’ report around midnight and dispatched officers immediately. Investigators found the man cooperative and said he showed no further disorderly behavior once removed.

The passenger was taken off the aircraft and processed for denied boarding. The woman he had harassed was interviewed separately and told police she did not want to file a formal complaint. With the disruption resolved, the aircraft pushed back again and departed at 1:05 a.m., arriving in Amsterdam later that Wednesday morning.

Aviation Police Bureau officers typically respond to reports of onboard disturbances by boarding the aircraft directly at the gate rather than waiting for passengers to disembark on their own. In this case, the bureau’s security police unit confirmed it received China Airlines’ notification shortly after midnight and had officers at the aircraft door within minutes. The relatively quick turnaround helped limit the overall delay to just under two hours despite the taxi-and-return maneuver.

China Airlines Points to Zero-Tolerance Policy on Passenger Misconduct

China Airlines said it takes inappropriate passenger behavior seriously and followed standard procedure by notifying the Aviation Police Bureau as soon as the crew flagged the situation. The airline described safety as its guiding principle and said it maintains a “zero-tolerance policy for irrational behavior” onboard its aircraft. It thanked passengers for their patience and law enforcement for their assistance.

The carrier did not disclose the nationality of the removed passenger or say whether he would face any travel restrictions on future China Airlines flights. Taiwanese media reported the man’s compliance with police once he was informed he would not be permitted to continue on the flight. Airlines operating out of Taiwan generally have discretion under their conditions of carriage to deny boarding to passengers deemed a risk to safety or order, a standard the captain appeared to invoke by turning the aircraft around before takeoff rather than attempting to manage the situation in the air.

Disruptive-passenger incidents are not new to Taiwan’s carriers. In 2019, EVA Air crew faced criticism after a passenger’s demands during a Los Angeles-to-Taipei flight sparked a public dispute over how far flight attendants should go to accommodate difficult travelers.

What Happens Next for Affected Passengers

China Airlines confirmed CI73 completed its journey to Amsterdam without further incident once it resumed taxiing. Passengers who missed connections due to the nearly two-hour delay were not addressed in the airline’s statement. The case remains closed on the criminal side after the woman declined to pursue charges, though the Aviation Police Bureau’s report on the incident stays on file with authorities at Taoyuan.

For other travelers on the flight, the episode meant a longer night than planned but no lasting disruption to their trip. The aircraft eventually landed in Amsterdam on schedule relative to its delayed departure, according to flight-tracking data cited by Taiwanese outlets. China Airlines has not indicated any change to its onboard alcohol service or boarding procedures as a result of the incident.