Fight breaks out on Southwest Airlines flight

What’s new

A fight on board caused a Southwest Airlines flight to return to Phoenix after taking off for Ohio, the airline said Monday.

The incident occurred on Flight 1699. It had left Sky Harbor and was en route to Columbus, Ohio on the evening of December 23, just before 1:00 p.m.

Newsweek has contacted Phoenix Police via online form for comment.

Why it matters

Such in-flight disturbances can have significant safety and operational implications, prompting emergency procedures, such as in this case returning an aircraft to its origin.

This week is expected to set travel records with tens of thousands of Americans traveling for the holidays. Therefore, airlines may face additional challenges in maintaining order and ensuring passenger safety.

What to know

Southwest issued a statement about the incident to Newsweek: “Southwest Airlines Flight 1699 returned safely to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Monday evening following a reported altercation on board.

The flight later continued to its original destination of Columbus, Ohio. Please contact local law enforcement for additional information. We apologize for the inconvenience to our customers.”

The Phoenix Police Department told local television station Fox 10 that officers responded to the plane’s gate around 10 p.m. 21:00, after the plane returned and before it took off a second time.

“None of the passengers were cooperative in the criminal investigation. One of the passengers was removed from the aircraft prior to takeoff. A report was written detailing the incident. No arrests were made. Additional information related to this incident remains part of the ongoing investigation.” investigation,” police said.

Neither Southwest Airlines nor Phoenix Police detailed what the fight was about.

What people say

Southwest Airlines, in a statement to Newsweek: “We apologize for the disruption and are working to get our customers to Columbus, Ohio as soon as possible.”

Phoenix Police Department to Fox 10: “None of the passengers were cooperative in the criminal investigation. One of the passengers was removed from the plane prior to takeoff.”

Title 49 of the US Code, Section 46504— Interference with flight crew members and flight attendants: “A person on an aircraft in the special aviation jurisdiction of the United States who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant on the aircraft, interferes with the performance of duties of the aircraft. member or companion or impairs the member or companion’s ability to perform these duties, or attempts or conspires to perform such an act, shall be fined under title 18, imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both, but if a dangerous weapon is used to assault or intimidate the member or companion, the individual shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

What’s next

Phoenix Police said the investigation is ongoing.

The rest of the holiday is likely to remain very busy at airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicted last week that it would screen 40 million airline passengers over the holidays and through Jan. 2.