PHOENIX – A Southwest Airlines flight returned to Phoenix after taking off for Ohio due to a fight breaking out on board, the airline said on Monday.
The incident happened on flight 1699 after it departed Sky Harbor and was headed for Columbus, Ohio on the evening of Dec. 23 just before 7 p.m.
The airline’s statement reads, 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.”
Once the plane returned, the Phoenix Police Department says officers responded to the flight’s gate around 9 p.m. before taking 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.
There’s no word on what the fight was about.