Four Passengers Removed From Chicago-Bound Flight In Baltimore
Updated 11/17/15 - 4:50 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Four people were removed from a Chicago-bound flight at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Tuesday, after a passenger alerted a flight attendant about suspicious activity.
As Spirit Airlines flight 969 was taxiing to the runway for a 6 a.m. departure, a passenger notified a flight attendant of another passenger engaging in suspicious activity, according to a report by CBS Baltimore. The flight attendant told the pilot, and the plane returned to the gate.
An airport spokesperson said three men and one woman were removed from the plane for questioning. They were all released after Maryland transit authorities determined that no criminal activity was discovered.
Transpiration authorities now suspect the woman ran to tell flight attendants she was suspicious of the man sitting next to her because of a video he was watching on his cell phone. that's when officers were called. Authorities concluded the so called suspicious video the man was watching was nothing more than "media" reports. Authorities say they are not angry with the tipser.
After the four people were removed from the plane, the remaining passengers were then told to exit the aircraft while security officers and police dogs searched the jet and the luggage.
After a security check was completed, the flight departed for O'Hare International Airport around 9 a.m. eastern time.
Upon landing in Chicago, passenger Jenna Farella said it was the "scariest moment of my life" when the four passengers were removed, given the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.
"I've been through some scary times, and this was the worst. I mean, I have never prayed so hard in my life. I just assumed the worst. You know, with everything that's going on, and the plane's about to take off, so my nerves are already shot just from flying," she said.