Flight Diverted To DIA Due To Drunk Passenger, No Charges Filed
DENVER (CBS4) - A flight was diverted to Denver International Airport Tuesday night due to an irate passenger. The Alaska Airlines flight was supposed to fly from Boston to San Diego, but the pilot landed it in Denver.
Authorities say the passenger was intoxicated and caused so much of a scene that the pilot made a detour to Denver.
There were 181 passengers on board the plane. Some told CBS4 the passenger become agitated and verbally abusive a few hours after leaving Boston.
"He got out of his seat and he was moving in threatening manner towards another passenger on plane," a fellow passenger said.
A passenger tweeted the experience saying the man appeared to be on drugs. Passenger Rebecca Shepherd's cellphone video captured the suspect being escorted off the plane to clapping passengers.
Authorities say the man was taken to detox but will not face charges because the Alaska Airlines crew did not want to press charges.
Alaska Airlines released a statement to CBS4 Wednesday saying, "Out of an abundance of caution, the captain decided to land at the nearest airport, which was Denver International Airport."
"What the Alaska Airlines crew did, I probably would have done the same thing," Larry Camden with the Colorado Pilots Association said.
Camden flew for a major airline for 37 years. He says its often up to the discretion of the pilot of an aircraft to decide who is too drunk to fly.
"There are no strong guidelines as far as … what is too much," he said.
Because there will be no charges the identity of the man will not be released.
The flight continued on its way to San Diego and landed around 10:30 p.m.