Flight diverted due to unruly, smoking passenger
Aug-05-2010

An unruly American Airlines passenger allegedly lit a cigarette mid-flight on Wednesday, forcing the aircraft to be diverted to Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, officials said.

American Airlines flight 117, a Boeing 767-200 from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, landed around 4.32 p.m. MDT (06:32 p.m. EST) at Albuquerque International Sunport. It was initially scheduled to fly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The crew diverted the flight due to 'suspicious activity' by a passenger and smelled a 'strange odor', according to Billy Sanez, a spokesman for the airline. He said the diversion was made as a precautionary measure.

Sanez said the passenger was detained by local authorities after the plane landed, but did not know why he was detained.

Greg Soule, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said the man was smoking on board the aircraft. "Law enforcement officers interviewed the passenger and flight crew, and out of an abundance of caution, the plane is currently being swept by canines," he said.

Further details were not immediately available.

Posted by Clay Kohut at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry  |  Share this entry  |  Print