Southwest Flight Diverted Over Suspicious Passenger
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Baltimore was diverted to Nashville on Saturday after a passenger displayed "suspicious behavior" and a suspicious item was found, The Tennessean reported.
Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Mainz said Flight 1307, which was scheduled to land in Baltimore at 2:40 p.m. E.T., was diverted because the crew "witnessed suspicious behavior specifically with regard to one passenger on board."
Assistant FBI Special Agent Keith Moses said the passenger "had used the restroom on two occasions, once at pre-takeoff as the flight was delayed on the ground and a second time in flight."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}His behavior prompted a search of the restroom and a "suspicious item" was found, Moses said. He would not comment on the item except to say it was "non-explosive related."
The flight, which had 115 people on board, was diverted to Nashville International Airport at 1:10 p.m. E.T.
Airport police and agents from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force met the plane at the gate in Nashville. Passengers were ordered to exit the plane and go through security screening while police investigated the plane, Nashville International Airport spokeswoman Emily Richard said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The suspicious passenger was detained, interviewed by authorities, and cleared for flight. He was not charged with any wrongdoing and his identity was not released.
The flight continued to Baltimore from Nashville at 3:55 p.m. E.T.