By Khalida Sarwari
Federal authorities removed an “unruly” passenger from a plane that was en route from San Jose to Houston and was diverted in Albuquerque this morning, an FBI spokesman said.
At about 9:30 a.m., Continental Airlines Flight 1576 diverted to Albuquerque International Sunport, FBI spokesman Frank Fisher said.
The plane landed safely, and local and federal authorities took the passenger into custody for questioning, Fisher said.
The man, who has yet to be identified, was disruptive enough for the plane crew to make the decision to divert the flight, Albuquerque International Sunport spokesman Daniel Jiron said.
Boyd Omer, an Albuquerque resident and aircraft mechanic, was called to inspect the plane and fix a window that the passenger had allegedly tried to break.
Omer said that upon arrival, he saw one of the flight attendants who had struggled with the passenger receiving oxygen because she was having trouble breathing.
About 25 feet away on the jet bridge, federal officials were walking out the passenger, his feet shackled and hands cuffed, Omer said.
He said the man appeared calm but was mumbling to himself.
“I heard him complaining about his ankles hurting,” Omer said. “He was a real small guy.”
Omer said he restored a plastic protective cover on a window that the man had tried to push out of place in the back of the plane.
The FBI determined the incident did not have any terrorism ties, Fisher said. No passengers were injured, and the matter was resolved successfully.
The investigation was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The flight continued to its destination at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport at about 10:30 a.m.
The plane initially departed from Mineta San Jose International Airport at 6:15 a.m., according to airport spokesman David Vossbrink.