Airline: ‘Unruly passenger’ causes diversion of Chicago-bound flight

A screaming lady was eliminated Monday afternoon from an American Airways flight from Miami to Chicago, her presence prompting an emergency touchdown in Indianapolis earlier than the flight continued to its vacation spot, a passenger advised USA TODAY.

No one was injured, according to American Airlines spokeswoman Laura Masvidal, who said Flight 1284 landed safely at Indianapolis global Airport at 5:44 p.m. and the passenger causing the problem was ordered off the plane.

Passenger Brian Salvi told Local 10 News he heard a commotion about two hours into the flight, and that the pilot announced a cabin lockdown on the in-flight intercom.

Jeff Dutton, the airport’s communications manager, says the woman had to be detained during the flight and was taken to the back of the plane. Passengers said on Twitter the woman may have been intoxicated and gotten into an altercation with a flight attendant. She also reportedly kicked an airport police officer while being removed from the plane.

Definitely the most scared I’ve ever been in my life.

The woman was preliminarily charged with battery, criminal recklessness and disorderly conduct.

“It was very disturbing, and you just feel bad for her”, fellow passenger Karen Moersch said.