Plane bound for LAX is grounded in Tucson after a passenger threatens flight crew

A Compass Airlines flight en route to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Arizona on Wednesday after a passenger threatened crew members.

After departing from San Antonio, the plane landed at about 3:45 p.m. in Tucson after a man interfered with crew members with “some type of verbal disturbance,” said Jessie Butler, a spokeswoman for the Tucson Airport Authority.

The unruly passenger refused to sit down and was uncooperative with flight attendants, according to passenger Ryan Healy on his Twitter account.

Two F-16 fighter jets escorted the plane while it flew to Tucson International Airport, Butler said.

The plane was met by the FBI, Tucson police, U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies.

The unidentified man was detained by the FBI.

An FBI spokesman based in the agency’s Phoenix field office confirmed that agents were investigating the incident.

“There is no threat to public safety,” Special Agent Matthew Reinsmoen said in a statement.

About 80 passengers and crew members were on board the flight. The passengers exited the plane for re-screening by the TSA, then returned to the plane, which departed at about 8 p.m. for Los Angeles.

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