Fight between two passenger triggers an emergency declaration and landing for B757-200 flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	780061
Time
Date	200803
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	780061
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Events
Anomaly	cabin event : passenger misconduct
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

Leaving 10000 ft I was advised by the 'a' flight attendant that a fight between 2 passenger had broken out in the back of the airplane and that they were protecting the cockpit door. I informed her that I agreed with her decision and that we were going to proceed to ZZZ as soon as possible and that we would have security meet the flight. I also told her to keep me informed to any changes in the situation. I declared an emergency with ZZZ approach control and informed them we were going to proceed directly to the OM for the approach. I instructed the first officer since he was an armed ffdo that in the event the situation changed and the cockpit door was compromised that I would assume PF duties and he would be free to perform the duties of an ffdo. We landed without delay and were allowed to taxi immediately to the gate where security met the flight. There were no injuries or aircraft damage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FIGHT BETWEEN TWO PAX TRIGGERS AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND LNDG FOR B757-200 FLT CREW.

Narrative: LEAVING 10000 FT I WAS ADVISED BY THE 'A' FLT ATTENDANT THAT A FIGHT BTWN 2 PAX HAD BROKEN OUT IN THE BACK OF THE AIRPLANE AND THAT THEY WERE PROTECTING THE COCKPIT DOOR. I INFORMED HER THAT I AGREED WITH HER DECISION AND THAT WE WERE GOING TO PROCEED TO ZZZ ASAP AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE SECURITY MEET THE FLT. I ALSO TOLD HER TO KEEP ME INFORMED TO ANY CHANGES IN THE SITUATION. I DECLARED AN EMER WITH ZZZ APCH CTL AND INFORMED THEM WE WERE GOING TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE OM FOR THE APCH. I INSTRUCTED THE FO SINCE HE WAS AN ARMED FFDO THAT IN THE EVENT THE SITUATION CHANGED AND THE COCKPIT DOOR WAS COMPROMISED THAT I WOULD ASSUME PF DUTIES AND HE WOULD BE FREE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF AN FFDO. WE LANDED WITHOUT DELAY AND WERE ALLOWED TO TAXI IMMEDIATELY TO THE GATE WHERE SECURITY MET THE FLT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACFT DAMAGE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.