A cross-country Alaska Airlines flight was diverted to Denver on Tuesday evening after an unruly passenger began acting out and making threats.
"He was told to calm down by flight crew, and then became agitated and verbally abusive, even issuing a threat to flight crew," airline spokeswoman Ann Zaninovich said,
according to NBC News.
"I was two rows behind the gentleman in question and he was a little belligerent and obnoxious basically, and started to worry a few passengers, so they took the right steps in addressing the situation,"
a passenger told CBS News. "Everybody was calm and relaxed and they did a great job with it."
Clair Conroy, another passenger on the Boston-to-San Diego trip, said the man "was upset the flight attendants would not let him drink the nips [small bottles of alcohol] he brought on" the flight.
"He got very belligerent, saying, 'OK, but you know that now we are all going to die.' He kept saying, 'I'm not a terrorist but we're going to die.' He then started making threats at the passengers," Conroy explained.
According to USA Today, the flight was delayed approximately 45 minutes, and did eventually complete its journey to San Diego after the man was escorted off the plane. Many cheered and clapped as he was removed.
Heath Montgomery, spokesman for Denver International Airport, cited a "possible passenger disturbance" in a message to reporters, and added that no charges were brought relating to the incident.