Sky-High Fight Forces Chicago-Bound Plane to Land in Texas

A fight broke out on a Chicago-bound Southwest Airlines flight from San Diego late Monday, forcing the pilot to land in Texas. As many as 10 people traveling together were involved in the disturbance, according to the the airline.

Six men in their 20s and 30s, according to local police, were booked into the county jail in Amarillo, Texas, and could face charges related to interference with a flight crew. All of the passengers were forced to deplane and were questioned by detectives. In addition to those arrested, six others were not allowed to reboard before Flight 1522 continued to Midway International Airport after hours of delay.

They “became disorderly and, subsequently, refused to obey instructions from the crew,” Southwest said in a statement, and “out of an abundance of caution” the pilots landed. The flight landed in Amarillo at about 10:45 p.m. and didn’t return to the air until after 1 a.m.

Amarillo Police Cpl. Jerry Neufeld told the Amarillo Globe and Press: “... several passengers felt like they were definitely out of line, very vocal, very obnoxious-acting.”

Other passengers aboard the plane tweeted about the incident, saying the people causing the ruckus were calling the flight attendants “racist.”

Tweeted @denkmack: “they (were) drunk and unruly yelling demanding more alcohol when they were cut off they called stewardess a pig”

Tweeted @weyhay_narry: “I can’t believe I watched 6 men get arrested on a plane. Wow”