Passengers On Diverted Flight Speak Of Unruly Passenger
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PHOENIX (CBSDFW.COM) - American Airlines Flight 2232 from San Jose to DFW Airport was diverted to Phoenix because of an unruly passenger according to the airline.
The airline told CBS11 around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, "the passenger was removed from the flight upon landing in Phoenix. We will depart for DFW shortly."
Officer James R. Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department released this statement Tuesday evening:
At around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday October 20th, 2015 American Airlines flight 2232, bound to Dallas, Texas from San Jose, California, was diverted to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport due to an unruly passenger.
Phoenix Police officers responded to the gate and was told by the flight crew that a 26 year old passenger, who appeared to have been intoxicated, had become disruptive and had to be restrained. Phoenix Police officers removed the passenger from the plane, however, the airlines did not desire prosecution. The passenger was sent to a local hotel with plans to catch another flight the next day.
The flight did arrive at DFW airport Tuesday evening. CBS11 talked to some of the passengers.
"I wasn't really nervous until he came and sat next to me. I was like what's going on?" said Kavya Gundavaram, a passenger on the flight.
Gundavaram was one of several passengers on their way from San Jose to Dallas when American Airlines flight 2232 emergency landed in Phoenix.
"All he said was 'sorry.' And then he had to get up because the flight attendant asked him to get up. But it was just really weird to witness," said Gundavaram.
Police reported the man removed was drunk, disruptive and had to be restrained.
"He went into the bathroom and would not come out of the bathroom and then some men went back there to go to the bathroom and then the next thing I know they're holding him down," said Erma Martinez, a passenger.
There were 96 passengers and crew of five on the MD-80.
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