American Airlines Flight Diverted After Passenger Allegedly Threatens The Plane, Other Travelers

Another day, another disruptive passenger prompting an emergency landing for another flight: once again, an American Airlines flight was diverted because of an unsettling situation on board. This time, officials say a passenger allegedly made threats on a plane traveling from Phoenix to New York City.

The flight heading to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York made an unscheduled stop in Wichita just before 7 p.m. last night, reports KSN.com, after a man reportedly said something on the plane that prompted the emergency situation. ABC 15 reports (warning: link has video that autoplays) that he allegedly made threats against both other passengers as well as the plane itself.

Arrest records indicate that he was removed from the flight and charged with criminal threat, cause terror, and evacuation or disruption, and was booked into county jail.

Though officials are staying mum on what happened on board, police say the FBI may bring charges against the passenger. The flight was delayed for about 40 minutes before continuing on its way to NYC.

Indie rock band The Augustines happened to be on the same flight, and Tweeted a few messages about the incident, calling it a “bad scene” and writing that the suspect said he wanted to kill people:

Whoa. Emergency landing in Witchita. Passenger threatening the plane that he wants to kill people. Bad scene.

— AUGUSTINES (@WeAreAugustines) November 4, 2015

The band Tweeted that marshals checked all the trash cans and bathrooms on the plane before removing the suspect.

American Airlines flight diverted to Wichita due to disruptive passenger [KSN.com]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist