Officials stated that the passenger was apprehended on the tarmac and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The nature of the hospitalization has not been disclosed, and there are currently no criminal charges related to the incident.
Flight Delay and Investigation
The incident caused a delay, but the flight eventually continued to its final destination of Baltimore. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has referred the investigation to federal authorities.
Southwest Airlines commended their crew for swift action and apologized to customers for the inconvenience. The airport acknowledged the incident but deferred further comments to the sheriff’s office.
Witnesses reported that the man attempted to flee in a service vehicle before being detained by airport authorities. The incident marked an unusual end to the busiest travel day of the year, following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
