LA Flight Emergency Landing: 'Unruly' Man Ejected in Tucson

An LA flight's emergency landing in Tucson under escort by F-16s on Wednesday afternoon was made because an "unruly" passenger threatened the plane's crew, reported The Associated Press.

Authorities said a Delta Airlines flight headed to Los Angeles landed at Tucson International Airport and was met by a group of law enforcement officers including the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol and airport police.

Tucson Airport Authority officials said a male passenger was taken off the plane and detained. Capt. Scott Bader of the Tucson Airport Authority Police Department told the Arizona Daily Star the man was turned over to the FBI.

The two F-16s accompanied the plane at the request of the “federal government,” said Bader.

“One suspect has been detained. This diversion was caused because there was a report of interference with the flight crew,” said Jessie Butler, an airport authority spokeswoman.

In a series of tweets, one passenger said the man was unruly and wouldn’t sit down. He said the man was apparently having “some sort of breakdown.” 

There were 80 passengers aboard the flight operated for Delta by Compass Airlines that originally took off from San Antonio.

They were taken off the plane, re-screened and then allowed to re-board the plane and continue to Los Angeles.

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