JUST IN: Flight Carrying 3 GOP Congressmen Grounded After Passenger’s Shocking Outburst

A cross-country flight carrying four Arizona congressmen had to make an emergency landing Wednesday after a furious passenger erupted midair, shouting, “We live in a fascist state,” as stunned travelers looked on.

The American Airlines flight from Phoenix to Washington, D.C., was diverted to Kansas City so crew members could remove the unruly woman, officials said.

Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat from Arizona, confirmed on X that he was on board alongside GOP Reps. Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar.

“We’re making emergency stop in Kansas City to remove disruptive passenger. None of my colleagues is the disruptor,” Stanton wrote, before taking a jab at the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, saying it was “losing its mojo.”

Video from another passenger (@Adam_Burtner on X) showed the unidentified woman being escorted off the plane, apologizing to others and declaring they lived in a “fascist state.”

WATCH:

Sadly, also on this flight with the Congressmen. “We live in a fascist state” were the parting words. https://t.co/m6ASlatES4 pic.twitter.com/HqFqFc8FZ3

— Adam Burtner (@Adam_Burtner) November 12, 2025

American Airlines later confirmed the diversion was due to a “disruptive customer.” Flight data indicated the stop caused about an hour delay before the plane arrived in D.C. around 9 p.m.

All four Arizona lawmakers made it to the Capitol in time for the high-stakes vote to end the government shutdown. Stanton voted no, arguing the deal “fails to lower health care costs,” while his three GOP colleagues supported the measure.

The House approved the Senate’s funding bill 222–209, restarting food assistance for more than 40 million Americans and restoring paychecks for federal workers, including air traffic controllers. The legislation also boosted security funding for lawmakers and reinstated laid-off employees.

RELATED: Record-Long Government Shutdown Officially Comes To A Close

Democrats slammed the package for failing to address rising health care costs, but the bill sailed through both chambers.

President Trump signed it into law on Wednesday night, officially ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

Flanked by top Republicans and business leaders, Trump blamed Democrats for the record closure.

“I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this,” he said, urging voters to remember the fight when they head to the polls next year.

He also renewed his call to scrap the filibuster, an idea opposed by leaders in both parties, and thanked the Democrats who crossed the aisle to back the funding deal, along with groups like the AFGE, Farm Bureau, and Fraternal Order of Police that lobbied for its passage.

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