Brawl breaks out on Southwest Airlines flight

What’s New

A brawl on board caused a Southwest Airlines to return to Phoenix after taking off for Ohio, the airline said on Monday,

The incident happened on Flight 1699. It had departed Sky Harbor and was headed for Columbus, Ohio on the evening of December 23 just before 7 p.m.

Newsweek has contacted Southwest Airlines via email and Phoenix Police via online form for comment.

Why It Matters

In-flight disruptions like this can have significant safety and operational implications, prompting emergency procedures such as, in this case, returning a flight to its origin.

This week is expected to set records for travel with tens of millions of Americans traveling for the holidays. Accordingly, airlines may face additional challenges in maintaining order and ensuring passenger safety.

What to Know

Local television station Fox 10 Phoenix posted the airline’s statement in full: “Southwest Airlines Flight 1699 returned safely to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Monday night after a reported altercation on board. We apologize for the disruption and are working to get our Customers to Columbus, Ohio, as soon as possible. Please contact local law enforcement for additional details.”

Phoenix Police Department told Fox 10 that officers responded to the flight’s gate around 9 p.m., after the aircraft returned and before it took off a second time.

“Neither passenger was cooperative with the criminal investigation. One of the passengers was removed from the plane prior to take off. A report was authored detailing the incident. No arrests were made. Additional information related to this incident remains part of the ongoing investigation,” police said.

Neither Southwest Airlines or Phoenix Police detailed what the fight was about.

What People Are Saying

Southwest Airlines, in a statement to Fox 10: “We apologize for the disruption and are working to get our Customers to Columbus, Ohio, as soon as possible.”

Phoenix Police Department to Fox 10: “Neither passenger was cooperative with the criminal investigation. One of the passengers was removed from the plane prior to take off.”

Title 49 of the U.S. Code, Section 46504—Interference with Flight Crew Members and Attendants: “An individual on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant of the aircraft, interferes with the performance of the duties of the member or attendant or lessens the ability of the member or attendant to perform those duties, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. However, if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or intimidating the member or attendant, the individual shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.”

What’s Next

Phoenix Police said the investigation is ongoing.

The remainder of the holidays is likely to remain very busy at airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicted last week that it would screen 40 million airline passengers over the holidays and through January 2.