Terrified Southwest passengers held their hands up as armed cops stormed a diverted jet over a “security threat” that wasn’t what it seemed
A routine flight turned into a nightmare as terrified holidaymakers were forced to hold their hands above their heads while armed police swarmed their plane.
Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 was cruising from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale last Friday night when a security alert sparked chaos, forcing the pilot to make an emergency diversion to Atlanta.
Footage captured on TikTok shows the cabin filled with dread as passengers leaned forward in their seats, keeping their hands visible as if in a standoff. Outside, the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was lit up by a sea of flashing red and blue lights as police cruisers surrounded the Boeing jet.
A flight attendant, trying to maintain a calm exterior despite the high-stakes drama, was heard over the intercom giving the travellers specific instructions as the authorities closed in. He said: “As you guys can see we do have vehicles rolling up to the side of the aircraft.”
Passengers were ordered to evacuate row-by-row, leaving all their luggage behind as they fled the “threat.” The crew member said: “Again, do not bring any other belongings other than what you have on your person.”
As the plane touched down just after 9pm, the situation escalated. Further footage shows a “strike team” of officers in full tactical gear sprinting down the narrow aisle.
The officers pounced on a man wearing a red shirt, hauling him from his seat and snapping on handcuffs before dragging him off the aircraft. Despite the significant response, it turns out the terror was nothing more than a mistake.
Sources indicate the panic was triggered by a passenger who had set a loud timer on his phone to remind him to pray during Ramadan. A spokesperson for the FBI in Atlanta said: “The FBI and APD investigated and interviewed the passengers early Saturday morning. There was no credible threat and no charges will be filed.”
Southwest told NBC they “made the decision to divert to Atlanta out of an abundance of caution due to what turned out to be a misunderstanding of a customer’s behaviour.”
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