Narrative:

While in cruise about 45 minutes out from ZZZ; the first officer needed a physiological break. We called the flight attendants and (in accordance with standard operating procedures) the first officer stepped out of the cockpit and a flight attendant came in; closing the cockpit door behind him. While the first officer was in the lavatory; a female passenger came up to the forward galley. The flight attendant informed her that she must use one of the lavatories in the back of the aircraft or return to her seat; but that she could not remain in the forward galley. The passenger was hispanic and claimed not to understand the flight attendant. Luckily; all three of the fas spoke fluent spanish and it was again explained in spanish. The passenger still refused to move and she verbally abused and threatened the fas. A deadheading male flight attendant came up to assist. The 'a' flight attendant called up to inform me what was going on. I could hear loud voices over the interphone and the fas speaking to the passenger in spanish. Meanwhile; the first officer had exited the lavatory and was now also in the galley. After several more minutes; the passenger's husband came up and convinced her to return to her seat. After she was seated and with the three fas plus the male deadheading flight attendant guarding and blocking access to the forward galley and the cockpit door; the cockpit door was opened and the flight attendant exited the cockpit and the first officer entered. We then locked down the cockpit in accordance with a threat level 1. I contacted dispatch with our status and requested to have law enforcement meet the aircraft in ZZZ. After arriving in ZZZ; law enforcement removed the passenger from the aircraft.after speaking with the first officer over the interphone; and visually confirming the galley was secure; I determined that it was safer and more prudent to have the first officer in the cockpit for the remainder of the flight. This scenario needs to be addressed during recurrent security training. What is the safest course of action if the cockpit is locked down with one of the pilots in the cabin? If it is determined that keeping the cockpit on lockdown is the safest course; where should the flight attendant sit? In the jumpseat or in a pilot seat?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 Captain reported that a passenger refused to leave the forward galley while the First Officer was using the forward lavatory causing a security issue.

Narrative: While in cruise about 45 minutes out from ZZZ; the First Officer needed a physiological break. We called the flight attendants and (in accordance with standard operating procedures) the FO stepped out of the cockpit and a FA came in; closing the cockpit door behind him. While the FO was in the lavatory; a female passenger came up to the forward galley. The FA informed her that she must use one of the lavatories in the back of the aircraft or return to her seat; but that she could not remain in the forward galley. The passenger was Hispanic and claimed not to understand the FA. Luckily; all three of the FAs spoke fluent Spanish and it was again explained in Spanish. The passenger still refused to move and she verbally abused and threatened the FAs. A deadheading male FA came up to assist. The 'A' FA called up to inform me what was going on. I could hear loud voices over the interphone and the FAs speaking to the passenger in Spanish. Meanwhile; the FO had exited the lavatory and was now also in the galley. After several more minutes; the passenger's husband came up and convinced her to return to her seat. After she was seated and with the three FAs plus the male deadheading FA guarding and blocking access to the forward galley and the cockpit door; the cockpit door was opened and the FA exited the cockpit and the FO entered. We then locked down the cockpit in accordance with a Threat Level 1. I contacted Dispatch with our status and requested to have law enforcement meet the aircraft in ZZZ. After arriving in ZZZ; law enforcement removed the passenger from the aircraft.After speaking with the FO over the interphone; and visually confirming the galley was secure; I determined that it was safer and more prudent to have the FO in the cockpit for the remainder of the flight. This scenario needs to be addressed during recurrent security training. What is the safest course of action if the cockpit is locked down with one of the pilots in the cabin? If it is determined that keeping the cockpit on lockdown is the safest course; where should the FA sit? In the jumpseat or in a pilot seat?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.