SWAT teams raided a Southwest flight in Atlanta, and took the passenger away at gunpoint
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Passengers encountered a confrontation last Friday when SWAT teams reportedly stormed their plane and forcibly removed a passenger at gunpoint following an emergency landing due to a possible security threat.
The removal occurred after 9pm in Atlanta on Southwest Airlines Flight 2094, which had departed from Nashville and was headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport near Miami, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 arrived safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Friday evening after diverting to respond to a potential security issue,” a Southwest spokesperson told Fox 5 Atlanta.
According to reports from witnesses on social media, the passengers were sitting on the plane for more than an hour confused when the authorities suddenly filled the plane and ordered everyone to “put their heads down, hands up.”
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A general view of a Southwest Airlines flight taken at LaGuardia Airport on Feb. 4, 2024, in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photos by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Several videos have gone viral showing panicked passengers raising their hands above their heads as tactical units wearing “Atlanta Police” vests swarm the plane to make arrests.
The police were then heard shouting at the passenger, “Get up, let’s go, get up,” before putting Sigonyela’s bracelets on him and dragging him away.
Authorities said multiple domestic and international agencies responded to what the FAA described as “passenger disruption.”
ALL CAPS: UNITED AIRLINES IS NOW OFFERING TRANSPORTATION TO PASSENGERS WHO HAD TO ENTER HEADLINES.
Police in full tactical gear were seen at the airport on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (David Santiago/El Nuevo Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The FBI’s Atlanta office said their agency, along with the Atlanta Police Department, investigated and interviewed the individual, but found no concrete threat and confirmed no charges will be filed.
Authorities did not explain why the passenger in question led security, but eyewitnesses on social media said he appeared upset when the flight crew put his large bag in the bins above the seat. It is reported that while he was traveling on the plane, his passengers saw him sending a text message that seemed to be dangerous.
| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUV | SOUTHEST AIRLINES CO. | 41.56 | -2.34 |
-5.33% |
Sarah Porter, who was sitting three rows behind the passenger in question, described the incident as “one of the scariest moments of my life” in a video that went viral over the weekend.
An aerial view of part of gate 209 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on November 30, 2018. (Stock)
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After the passenger was removed, the remaining travelers remained on the plane for another 90 minutes before they were allowed to exit and allow police dogs to search their bags, according to Porter.
The passengers were finally able to board the new plane and arrive in Florida around 4 a.m., Porter said, adding that a short two-hour flight turned into a nine-hour nightmare.
FOX Business has reached out to Southwest Airlines for more information.
