The FBI is investigating after a plane flying from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was diverted to Atlanta on Friday evening so police could remove a passenger due to a "safety scare."
Atlanta police officials said they assisted federal authorities in removing the passenger from the plane after it landed at 9:06 p.m. at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Although officials have not released details about the nature of the incident, police confirmed that the investigation was handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security.
Videos captured by passengers aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 show moments of tension inside the cabin, with passengers ordered to keep their heads down and their hands up, as four police officers wearing various gear pulled an unidentified man from his seat and handcuffed him.
In a statement, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said: "Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday evening after diverting to respond to a potential safety issue. We appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew and sincerely apologize to our customers for the significant delay. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees."
The airline noted that after the incident, all other passengers were re-accommodated on another plane, continuing to Fort Lauderdale International Airport and landing shortly before 3:30 a.m. /Telegraph/
