American Airlines flight diverted after man lights cigarette and shouts ‘you’re all screwed’ at passengers
Traveller was handcuffed by police and removed on a stretcher
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Your support makes all the difference.An American Airlines flight was forced to divert to Denver after a man lit up a cigarette, screamed obscenities at other passengers and shouted “you’re all screwed” while locked in the aircraft toilet.
Flight 2408 was flying from Phoenix, Arizona to Minneapolis, Minnesota when the pilot made the call to land in Colorado so the disruptive passenger could be removed.
The man, who has not been named, started hitting the seat in front of him and swearing at another passenger about 30 minutes into the flight, according to witnesses.
An hour into the journey, the pilot announced that the plane would be diverted “due to a security issue in the back."
”I think everyone knew what that was for,“ fellow passenger Jim Dickey told Fox News.
Dickey said the man then ran down the aisle and into the toilet, where he started screaming and hitting the walls.
The smell of cigarette smoke also started emanating from the restroom, while the man was heard shouting, “you’re all screwed”.
“Made it a little nervous,” added Dickey.
Once the plane had touched down, the man, who was reportedly “jittery”, lit another cigarette.
The pilot asked the first 13 rows of passengers to exit the plane, before the man was handcuffed by police and removed from the aircraft on a stretcher.
He was heard saying: “Take it off, it hurts. I’ll f***ing kill you!” reports TMZ.
Two hours later, the flight departed for Minneapolis.
American Airlines said in a statement: “American Airlines Flight 2408 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport diverted to Denver International Airport Friday due to a disruptive passenger. Law enforcement met the flight, and the aircraft re-departed. Thank you to our crew members for taking care of our customers during this situation.”
Law enforcement confirmed they had not arrested the man and that he was taken to hospital for treatment.
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