Everson Griffen, a former Minnesota Vikings defensive end, was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight on Wednesday after a reported mid-flight incident.

Griffen was in transit from Chicago to Minneapolis when the disturbance was reported, causing the plane to turn back to O'Hare International Airport shortly after departure.

'Zero Tolerance for Unruly Behavior' For Delta

Former Vikings DE Everson Griffen Removed from Delta Flight Former Vikings DE Everson Griffen Removed from Delta Flight
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

As reported by TMZ Sports, Griffen was alleged to have caused a disturbance on board the flight, prompting Delta pilots to act and divert the aircraft for the sake of passengers' safety.

A spokesperson from Delta Airlines confirmed the incident in an official statement, justifying the early flight landing as a result of an "unruly passenger."

"Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta."

It is not clear if Griffen was arrested or officially charged as of press time. Authorities have not released any information about his status after the plane returned to Chicago.

A few hours ahead of the flight, Griffen uploaded a social media video where he was excitedly driving to the airport. His caption was:

"We out Chicago!!! It's up — it better be!!!"

Unfortunately, the enthusiastic post was in sharp contrast to what happened aboard the plane, which ended up abbreviating the journey for all the passengers aboard.

Griffin's Mental Health Issues, Previous Incidents

Griffen has been open about his ongoing mental health journey. Unfortunately, he has also been involved in several highly publicized incidents in recent years. In 2021, he made headlines when he remained inside his home during a mental health episode, prompting a welfare check by authorities.

At the time, The New York Post reported that Griffen shared a video in which he held a firearm and expressed fears for his safety. In 2018, he was involved in another concerning episode where he exited an ambulance prematurely.

In 2024, Sports Illustrated reported that Griffen received four years of probation following a DWI arrest in May and completed 60 days under electronic home monitoring.

Mental health challenges should always be met with compassion and care, and experts consistently stress the importance of seeking therapy, medical treatment, and ongoing support.