A Georgia grandmother and retired Army veteran is earning nationwide praise for her heroic actions aboard a Delta flight, where she courageously stopped a passenger from storming the cockpit. Nicole Pruitt, a seasoned military veteran with 26 years of service, proved that even at 35,000 feet, she’s always ready to answer the call to protect.
The tense incident occurred on July 16 during a flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Tucson, Arizona. Pruitt was en route to meet her newborn grandson when the peace was shattered just 20 minutes into the journey.
Reports reveal that a female passenger suddenly tried to force her way into the cockpit, insisting she had received a divine message. “She didn’t want to be on the plane anymore,” Pruitt told WSAZ 3. “She said God told her to do it. She had a calling.”
At that moment, Pruitt’s instincts as a soldier and protector surged forth — and she acted decisively.
“Nobody else was doing anything, so I just knew I had to step up,” Pruitt told 13 News. Refusing to stay on the sidelines, the seasoned Army veteran sprang into action, helping to restrain the passenger until the flight crew could regain full control.
Video footage from the incident—later shared on TikTok by Pruitt’s son, Tyrique Perry—shows the unruly passenger lying face down on the cabin floor with her hands bound behind her back. Nearby, Pruitt calmly returns to her seat, remarking with quiet confidence, “I will whoop her a–.”
“I thought to myself, ‘Wait a minute… Not today,’” she recalled, the moment she recognized the threat and decided to act.
The plane was forced to turn around amid the disruption, but thanks to Pruitt’s quick thinking and courage, everyone on board remained safe. “I’ve got to make it home to my kids, my children, my grandchildren,” she reflected, explaining what drove her to step in.
Her son, Tyrique Perry, wasn’t surprised by her heroic response. “Sometimes, it’s just instinct—you’ve got to get it done,” he said. Since being posted, the TikTok video has gone viral, with viewers across the nation praising Pruitt as a true hero.
“This woman is a hero,” one viewer wrote, while another chimed in, “Thank you, Queen Nikki.” Social media quickly filled with admiration, as fans urged Delta Airlines to formally recognize Pruitt’s courageous actions.
“Bless this woman and what she did for everyone on that flight!! Delta, step up and take care of her for life!” one user exclaimed. Another added, “Delta needs to reward her with free first-class flights forever!”
With unruly passenger incidents on the rise across the airline industry, Pruitt’s story stands as a powerful reminder that heroes can emerge from the most unexpected places—even economy class. Her bravery not only averted a crisis but also inspired countless passengers and viewers nationwide.