Plane to Chicago diverted because of mid-air fight

Flight 1522 was traveling from San Diego to Chicago’s Midway global Airport.

Southwest Airlines says a Chicago-bound flight has been diverted to Texas after a group of passengers became disorderly.

Pilot and crew decided the disorderly passengers could potentially cause problems and were forced to divert the plane to Rick Husband Amarillo global Airport in Amarillo, Texas. Officers detained the six men.

The six “refused to follow instructions from the crew”, the airline said, adding that the passengers left the plane at Amarillo at approximately 3:33 a.m. The incident may be alcohol-related, authorities said.

Amarillo police received a call around 10:20 p.m. reporting an altercation on Southwest Airlines Flight 1522.

Southwest Airlines didn’t reveal specific details about the passengers’ behavior. “Additionally, six other members of the group chose to deplane and remain in Amarillo”, Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish said in an email.

More than 100 people were on board the flight.

The flight eventually continued to Midway and landed without further incident, Parrish said.