A Passenger Was Restrained Midflight. A Retired Police Chief Helped.

The Flight Was Routine Until It Wasn’t

Daniel Borman, 36, of Springfield, New Jersey, was on United Airlines flight 1364 from Newark to Fort Lauderdale on August 5, 2026, when the crew cut him off from alcohol. He grew increasingly disruptive over roughly 45 minutes, which four flight attendants worked to manage, before off-duty law-enforcement passengers stepped in.
One of those passengers was Brian O’Hara, the retired chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, who was on the same flight, traveling with his wife.

‘Something Was Just Off’

O’Hara said he noticed early that the situation was not going to de-escalate on its own. ‘Something was just off,’ he said afterward, and he stayed alert while the crew worked the situation verbally.
For about 45 minutes, the four flight attendants attempted to calm Borman without physical intervention. When the situation turned physical, O’Hara stepped in, standing on a seat while two Bergen County sheriff’s deputies, also traveling as passengers, took hold of Borman’s arm. Borman was flex-cuffed and remained secured for the rest of the flight. Video circulated on social media after the plane landed.

Three Off-Duty Officers and a Retired Chief

The presence of law enforcement extended beyond O’Hara. The two Bergen County sheriff’s deputies were also traveling off-duty, and none of the three knew each other before the flight. Together they provided enough presence to restrain Borman once the situation crossed into physical disruption.
O’Hara served as Minneapolis police chief from 2022 until his retirement. He was not on duty in any capacity during the incident.

The Arrest at Fort Lauderdale

When the flight landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, law enforcement was waiting. Borman was taken into custody on a charge of disorderly intoxication under Florida law. He has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.
The four flight attendants who managed the disruption were not injured, and no other passengers were reported to have been directly threatened.

What the Video Showed

Footage from inside the cabin, which spread widely after landing, showed Borman being moved down the aisle and escorted off the aircraft. Broward County jail records showed he was no longer listed as in custody the next day, suggesting he had been released or posted bond.
O’Hara did not describe the incident as exceptional. For a retired police chief with decades of experience, a disruption on a commercial flight was a situation he already knew how to read.

References: Retired police chief helps subdue passenger after alleged midair outburst, alcohol cutoff | Video shows arrest of unruly passenger on flight to Fort Lauderdale

The Truth In Facts team was assisted by generative AI technology in creating this content