AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A man is now in custody after officials said he became unruly and disruptive aboard a Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday afternoon.
The plane made an emergency landing at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. It was originally reported by airport officials that the man had attempted to break in to the cockpit. Airport officials have now confirmed to Pronews 7 that he did not try to break in to the cockpit.
"The control tower initially said he was trying to break in," Rhodes said. "I can only assume that's what the aircrew told the tower. We got we report he was trying to break into the cockpit but that is inaccurate to report now."
Amarillo Police responded to the airport and took the subject, 29-year-old Ali Reza Shahsauri, into custody. He is from California, police said. He was booked for Interference with a Flight Crew, a Federal offense.
According to the Randall County Sheriff's Department, Shahsavari has not yet been arraigned. He is a U.S. Citizen.
"We are involved in it and preliminary investigation indicates that in no way shape or form was this an act of terrorism but we continue to investigate."
The airplane was Flight 3683, a full non stop flight from Los Angeles to Kansas City. Rhodes said the flight should resume its normal schedule. None of the flight's 136 passengers of five crew memebers was injured, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said.
To hear full scanner audio of the events, courtesy of Webbfeatproductions.com, click here.
Update 4:30p
A man is now in custody after officials originally said he attempted to break in to a Southwest Airlines cockpit Tuesday afternoon.
The plane made an emergency landing at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. Patt Rhodes, Aviation Director for the airport confirmed to Pronews 7 that the plane will resume its normal schedule soon.
"At about 3:30 we were notified by the air traffic control tower that a Southwest aircraft was reporting a passenger trying to break in to the cockpit," Rhodes said. "At that point we took appropriate measures and the individual is in custody."
Amarillo Police responded to the airport and took the man into custody. Cpl. Jerry Neufeld said he attempted to break into the cockpit causing the plane to make the emergency landing in Amarillo. Neufeld said he is unsure at this time of what will happen to the subject in custody.
"As far as I know the plane is going to go on its way," Rhodes said. "There's no reason for the plane to stay here as far as I know and I would expect it to get back in its normal routine."
Update 4:10p
Pronews 7 has learned the plane was a Southwest Airlines jetliner. According to Patt Rhodes, the plane will resume its schedule soon. He would not disclose where the plane was coming from or where it is headed to.
Update 3:55p
Pronews 7 on scene has confirmed that the plane has landed and a man is in custody.
FIRST reported by Pronews 7
Authorities are currently responding to Rick Husband Amarillo International airport on reports of a person trying to break in to a plane's cockpit.
According to Cpl. Jerry Neufeld of the Amarillo Police Department, the airport requested the help of APD.
He said there were claims of someone trying to break into the cockpit.
Pronews 7 spoke with airport officials who confirmed the emergency landing of the plane.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
