FBI investigating after Southwest flight from Houston had to emergency land in Arkansas
Woman escorted off Southwest flight for ‘disorderly conduct’
A Southwest flight from Houston to Ohio had to make an emergency touchdown in Arkansas after the airline mentioned an unruly passenger was concerned in an alleged assault on board. FOX 26’s Natalie Hee spoke with a passenger who was on the flight when the incident occurred.
HUSTON – A Southwest flight from Houston to Ohio had to make an emergency touchdown in Arkansas throughout the busiest journey weekend of the 12 months. The airline says the diversion occurred due to an unruly passenger concerned in an alleged assault on board.
The Thanksgiving vacation marked the busiest journey interval of the 12 months with greater than 2.3 million vacationers flying in and out of Houston airports, the biggest crowd since 2019 in accordance to airport officers.
While most passengers reported a easy expertise, passengers aboard Southwest Flight 192 panicked when the captain introduced he had to make an emergency touchdown in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Cellphone video from a passenger on board captures the second regulation enforcement escorted an unidentified lady off the aircraft. The flight was en route from Houston to Columbus, Ohio on Saturday afternoon when the crew had to divert due to a suspected assault.
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Ding Yu was on board that flight when by the noise of his headphones, he heard shouting from behind. Yu then testified that a number of individuals ran to the again of the aircraft to assist seize the lady to the bottom and restrain her till the aircraft landed safely.
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“They were rushing to the back of the plane to help. I was thinking the worst case, maybe that plane will crash, but I know it’s a very low probability,” Yu mentioned.
What was supposed to be a three-hour flight become a six-hour delay.
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The TSA says they screened over 2 million passengers throughout the nation.
Southwest Airlines says the diversion was protocol for crews coping with an unruly passenger.
An FBI spokesman says one passenger was taken to a hospital for therapy. The lady escorted off the aircraft was taken into federal custody and is anticipated to face expenses, in accordance to authorities.
In an announcement, the FBI mentioned, “FBI Little Rock is investigating an alleged incident that occurred on Southwest Flight 192 on November 26. That flight, which originated in Houston (HOU), landed safely at 3:35 p.m. in Little Rock. The passengers have since departed Little Rock for their original destination of Columbus, Ohio (CMH). One individual is in federal custody at this time and another passenger was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
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An FBI Little Rock Airport Liaison Agent and other investigators are working closely with our partners at the LRPD, the Little Rock Airport and Southwest Airlines. The FBI is the primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential attacks on board aircraft violations.
We will work closely with prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas to thoroughly investigate this incident and potentially file federal charges. I would direct any questions you have about potential charges to USAO-EDAR.”
