A flight headed to Tampa, Florida, was diverted to Atlanta, Georgia, after a passenger was found to have a box cutter, according to the airline and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
A Frontier Airlines spokesperson said “a passenger on board the aircraft was observed in possession of a box cutter” and that the passenger was later “taken into custody by Atlanta law enforcement.”
The flight was coming from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Other passengers were offered a new flight Saturday morning to Tampa. No injuries were reported.
According to multiple outlets, the TSA said the plane was diverted around 9:30 p.m. Friday “after a disturbance involving a disruptive passenger, in possession of a box cutter was declared.”
TSA said in a statement on Saturday that the plane was diverted around 9:30 p.m. “after a disturbance involving a disruptive passenger, in possession of a box cutter was declared.”
The TSA also said a second box cutter was found in the person’s carry-on luggage.
The statement is in full as below:
“At approximately 9:30 p.m. EST on November 11, Frontier flight 1761 from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) bound for Tampa International Airport (TPA) elected to divert to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) after a disturbance involving a disruptive passenger, in possession of a box cutter was declared. The cockpit was secure and passengers were deplaned in ATL. FBI and Atlanta Police Department responded to the incident, took the suspect into custody and the flight was canceled. Following a search of the suspect, a second box cutter was discovered in the passenger’s carry-on.
“TSA takes its role in transportation security very seriously. The situation with the Frontier flight is under investigation with the US Attorney’s Office, as they are the lead federal agency in this matter. TSA has started an internal review of the incident by viewing CCTV, airport security checkpoint processes/operations and will continue to provide updates as they are available. TSA can confirm that blades are prohibited in the cabin, but allowed in checked luggage.”
In a later statement to The Epoch Times, the TSA said that the traveler had his items screened “using CT technology which creates a 3-D image that can be rotated 360 degrees for a thorough analysis” prior to boarding his flight.
“Following review of the incident, including closed-circuit television (CCTV), the image review capabilities of the CT were not fully used,” according to the updated TSA statement, issued on Nov. 13. “The box cutters were not identified by the CT operator, but his property was identified for a further search. During the search, one box cutter was discovered. The visible blades were removed from the box cutter and provided back to the passenger.
“This is contrary to standard operating procedure which requires these items to be placed in checked bags or voluntarily abandoned. The backpack containing the other box cutter, and the remainder of the traveler’s property, was screened for explosives, but the box cutter was not discovered.”
The TSA stated that the employees involved in the incident “have been placed in a training status for remediation on CT image review and physical search procedures.” It added that various degrees of briefings and trainings will be provided in the state and across the country so that screening employees are reminded on how to use the technology and how to deal with prohibited items.
“So, I went up to talk to the flight attendants in the front of the airplane,” Hoffman told the station. “They ended up telling me that they were going to land the plane immediately and we were down in 20 minutes.”
Atlanta police said the FBI is leading the investigation into the incident.
