A Southwest Airlines flight found itself making an unscheduled return to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport following an onboard dispute Monday evening. Flight 1699, which was headed to Columbus, Ohio, experienced a fight between two passengers, mandating a diversion back to its origin shortly after an 8:30 p.m. departure, according to ABC 15.
The altercation compelled the pilot to make a sudden U-turn and safely land the aircraft back in Phoenix. As reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, the airline released a statement saying, "Southwest Airlines Flight 1699 returned safely to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Monday night after a reported altercation on board." The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured efforts were underway to transport customers to their intended destination as soon as possible.
Upon the flight's return, the Phoenix Police Department was contacted to handle the situation. Responding to the incident at approximately 9 p.m., the police found that neither of the involved parties was willing to fully cooperate with the criminal investigation following the onboard conflict. ABC 15 reported that one passenger was subsequently removed from the flight before it could take off again, though no arrests were made at the time.
Details surrounding the catalyst of the altercation have not been made public as the investigation continues. "A report was authored detailing the incident. No arrests were made. Additional information related to this incident remains part of the ongoing investigation," police officials informed FOX 10 Phoenix. Meanwhile, impacted passengers were left to rejigger their travel plans, an all too common story in the increasingly stressful tableau of air travel.
