Six charged after rowdy behaviour forced flight diversion
Six passengers have been charged after they allegedly abused flight attendants who had refused to serve them alcohol.
Their unruly behaviour forced the pilot to divert the Southwest Airlines flight from San Diego to Chicago flight to Amarillo in Texas.
The six are charged with interfering with flight crew and aiding and abetting others.
They are accused of ‘loud, aggressive behaviour and obscene language’ according to court affidavit.
It said that after the men were denied alcohol, they accused the crew of racism.
All flight crew and passengers had to disembark at Amarillo and were interviewed by police before resuming their journey to Chicago.
Court documents identified the six as Salman Hermez, Jonathan Khalid Petras, Ghaswan Asaad Shaba, Essa Solaqa, Khalid Yohana and Wisam Imad Shaker.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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