Flight forced to land after surprise in cargo hold

SEATTLE -- Alaska Airlines says a Los Angeles-bound flight has returned to Seattle after the pilot heard a trapped worker banging inside the plane's cargo hold.

Alaska flight 448 had just taken off Monday when the banging came from beneath the aircraft. The airline said in a news release the captain immediately returned to Seattle-Tacoma International and declared an emergency for priority landing.

The aircraft was in the air for 14 minutes, CBS News affiliate KIRO reported.

After the plane landed a ramp agent, an employee of Menzies Aviation, was found inside the front cargo hold, which Alaska Airlines says is pressurized and temperature-controlled. When he left the plane, he told authorities he had fallen asleep. The worker appeared OK but was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

The airline says it's investigating.