Sometimes you’ll see flight delays because passengers have to be removed from the aircraft, though it’s not every day that you see a delay because crew members had to be removed.
In this post:
United flight attendant disagreement leads to delay
PYOK has the story of what happened on Monday, October 27, 2025, on United Airlines flight UA2138 from Des Moines (DSM) to Chicago (ORD). The short 299-mile flight was operated by an Airbus A320, and was scheduled to depart Des Moines at 11:26AM, and arrive in Chicago at 12:57PM. However, that’s not how things played out.
While we don’t have the dramatized version of events, we do have the facts, which is what United’s internal system showed as the cause of the delay:
Crew Availability Flight Attendant : Disagreement on 2 of the FAs . IFDM pulling all crew and will need to recrew flight.
For what it’s worth, “IFDM” stands for inflight duty manager, so those are the managers who oversee flight attendants. All passengers ended up being deplaned at 12:08PM, around 40 minutes after the scheduled departure time. So it sounds like the disagreement may have dragged on a bit, given that the decision to find a new crew was only made so long after the incident first started.
A new crew was then found, and the flight finally departed at 3:24PM, just under four hours behind schedule, and arrived at 5:09PM, a little over four hours behind schedule.
Ordinarily, United’s flight status page provides detailed explanations sharing the reasons for delays, though that’s not available here… perhaps unsurprisingly. 
These kinds of incidents are very rare, but do happen
As you’d expect, flight attendants work with all kinds of different people, so they’re used to having to get along with others. After all, they rarely work with the same person twice, and the industry attracts all kinds of characters.
As a result, it’s extremely rare to see a disagreement between crew members get so bad that they have to delay a flight and find a completely new crew. One certainly wonders what kind of a disagreement caused this incident.
In these kinds of situations, often it comes down to different approaches to customer service between flight attendants. Maybe one flight attendant is treating a passenger poorly, and the other flight attendant refuses to go along with that (since flight attendants often have one another’s backs, even when they maybe shouldn’t).
This isn’t even limited to flight attendants, as you’ll also see this with pilots sometimes. A July 2022 incident comes to mind, where two Alaska pilots on a flight from Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) couldn’t get along. One of the pilots even explained the situation to passengers, stating the delay was “due to a failure to get along,” and that he was leaving the plane “in the interest of safety.”
So yeah, ideally everyone would be able to get along, and incidents like this shouldn’t happen. At the same time, if there truly is a situation where two people just can’t work together, I appreciate when that’s addressed before takeoff, so it doesn’t pose a safety risk inflight.
Bottom line
A United Airlines flight from Des Moines to Chicago was delayed by hours, after two flight attendants reportedly couldn’t get along, to the point that their supervisor had to get involved, and a new crew had to be found. As a result, the flight was delayed by around four hours.
While people often get removed from aircraft before departure, it’s typically a passenger and not a crew member, so this is a pretty rare one.
What do you make of this United incident?
Sucks for all the passengers, especially those that missed connections. Someone needs to be fired.
I understand there are a lot of different kinds of flight attendants but I agree it's rare to see them not get along with each other to the point a supervisor had to be involved.
Reminds one of the fight two AF pilots got into on a flight from GVA to CDG.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/29/two-air-france-pilots-suspended-after-fight-in-cockpit-prompts-cabin-crew-to-intervene
Like, that flight isn't even long enough to get to know your colleague in the cockpit, least of all determine that you hate and need to hit him...
Every variation of delay imaginable can be found across the United network. This isn't premium airline. No US carrier for that matter is. But at the very least, United doesn't pretend to be the elevated experience it is not, unlike its ATL based competitor, which has no humility and will find itself with lots of premium seats chasing fewer customers once the US economy tanks.
Yet another case for some to acquaint themselves with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, yes?
Only the foolhardy fail in their personal management abilities after ignoring the basic needs of all human beings.
And, when stressed, ask yourself: Am I tired, hungry, need to use the toilet, or facing a false sense of urgency? Remember your training. Also, take deep breaths. And, finally, this too shall pass. Dust to dust. Pale Blue Dot.
Really 1990, so, your claim to fame is?
Really 1990, so, your claim to fame is?
One immediately knows if one’s management skills are adequate when junior colleagues volunteer to accompany one into a life threatening situation. One is not suggesting that civil aviation is as hazardous as some other forms of flying practices, however, Boeing Max flying for a U.S. airline could well be the exception …. :-)
One immediately knows if one’s management skills are adequate when junior colleagues volunteer to accompany one into a life threatening situation. One is not suggesting that civil aviation is as hazardous as some other forms of flying practices, however, Boeing Max flying for a U.S. airline could well be the exception …. :-)
Apologies for the repetitive posts, there is a website posting delay making post hit or miss.
This. Is. Why. We. Need. Air. Passenger. Rights. Legislation. Like. EU261.
This is a staffing issue under the airlines' control. If you're gonna fail to perform, then pay up. Your customers/passengers gave you a zero-interest loan by purchasing specific dates, times, class of service, etc., often many months in-advance. For the airline to get to significantly delay or cancel a flight for any reason, and only have to provide a refund (sometimes only partial), creates...
This. Is. Why. We. Need. Air. Passenger. Rights. Legislation. Like. EU261.
This is a staffing issue under the airlines' control. If you're gonna fail to perform, then pay up. Your customers/passengers gave you a zero-interest loan by purchasing specific dates, times, class of service, etc., often many months in-advance. For the airline to get to significantly delay or cancel a flight for any reason, and only have to provide a refund (sometimes only partial), creates the wrong incentive for these companies to continue to screw us over.
Likewise, pay and support your crews and ground staff. If we can give Argentina $40 billion on a whim, while we force the needy off food assistance, there's ample money in the USA... we're just using it poorly, and punching-down. I'd expect, if these crew members weren't strained financially, they'd probably treat each other better, and their roles even more seriously. Alas, we're needlessly suffering because apparently those at the top don't care to lead or manage responsibly anymore.
EU261 actually makes some passengers want the flight to be late! What ends up happening is the cost of flights go up slightly but a small number of passengers get a windfall. The effect is Trumpian, not liberal or progressive. It worsens income inequality!
In the EU, airlines are different. The Spirit/Frontier/Allegiant segment is bigger. Airfares within the EU are competitive with US levels 2 months in advance but 2-3 weeks out can be significantly...
EU261 actually makes some passengers want the flight to be late! What ends up happening is the cost of flights go up slightly but a small number of passengers get a windfall. The effect is Trumpian, not liberal or progressive. It worsens income inequality!
In the EU, airlines are different. The Spirit/Frontier/Allegiant segment is bigger. Airfares within the EU are competitive with US levels 2 months in advance but 2-3 weeks out can be significantly more expensive.
As far as Argentina, the feds are supplying $20B, not $40B. An additional 20B is from private sources. $20B is not a gift but a credit swap. Still risky but there's some chance that it won't cost the US a dime.
This myth of increased airfare is disproven by Ryanair which continues to operate dirt-cheap flights at a profit, even while EU261 affects nearly all of their routes.
Such regulations do not bankrupt airlines; it presents the correct incentives for them to operate timely, which leads to greater efficiency and reliability, and thus, more business.
Maybe some do 'hope' for delays, but most do not; and, the passengers do not get to decide whether...
This myth of increased airfare is disproven by Ryanair which continues to operate dirt-cheap flights at a profit, even while EU261 affects nearly all of their routes.
Such regulations do not bankrupt airlines; it presents the correct incentives for them to operate timely, which leads to greater efficiency and reliability, and thus, more business.
Maybe some do 'hope' for delays, but most do not; and, the passengers do not get to decide whether their flight is on-schedule, early, late, etc. That's usually under the control of the airline (or 'extraordinary circumstances.')
As to Argentina, please do apply that same logic to all other foreign aide, and you'll quickly disagree with yourself. $40 billion to bail out Wall Street while SNAP dries up. A+ shilling.
"EU261 actually makes some passengers want the flight to be late!"
So what? It may also make other passengers "want" to have unicorns fly out of their butts. It doesn't mean a thing or make a bit of difference, not even sure why you would say this.
"What ends up happening is the cost of flights go up slightly but a small number of passengers get a windfall."
Provide the data for this assertion.
Willy, I’m confused as to why it sounds as if you are so opposed to EU261 type compensation for U.S. citizens flying domestic routes. As it is my understanding that U.S. domestic air travel is in tatters, as far as customer satisfaction is concerned, surely only the airlines bean counters could object, yes?
Do you contend that regulations would only make the situation worse?
@AeroB13a - I'm not sure what I said that would lead one to believe that I'm opposed to having an EU261-type rule in place for the USA.
My objection was to the statement about passengers wanting to be late; my point there was that it doesn't matter if "passengers want the flight to be late!" - passengers don't control airline departures or arrivals.
My question was about the assertion that "the cost of flights...
@AeroB13a - I'm not sure what I said that would lead one to believe that I'm opposed to having an EU261-type rule in place for the USA.
My objection was to the statement about passengers wanting to be late; my point there was that it doesn't matter if "passengers want the flight to be late!" - passengers don't control airline departures or arrivals.
My question was about the assertion that "the cost of flights go up slightly but a small number of passengers get a windfall." I asked for proof of that in the form of data, not opinion.
I do not contend that regulations would only make the situation worse.
Thank you Willy, for clearing the ‘muddy’ waters, I do appreciate the clarity.