Southwest Flight 192, originating in Houston, was forced to make an emergency landing at Clinton National in Little Rock, Arkansas this Saturday after a passenger allegedly assaulted someone mid-flight.
The plane made an emergency landing at the Little Rock airport at 3:35 p.m. on December 26, and an investigation led by the FBI is currently underway.
Allegedly, a woman on the flight assaulted another person on the aircraft mid-flight and is now in custody and will likely face federal charges.
Officers with the Little Rock Police Department were at the scene after the landing, and one passenger was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“Flight 192 traveling from Houston to Columbus followed protocol and safely diverted to Little Rock after our Crew observed unruly behavior from a passenger mid-flight. Local authorities in Little Rock met the flight upon landing and removed the Customer from the flight,” Southwest Airlines said in a statement.
The FBI says it is working to investigate the alleged assault.
Connor Hagan, public affairs officer with FBI Little Rock, issued a statement explaining that the FBI “is the primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential assault aboard aircraft violations,” meaning that FBI liaison agent and other investigators are working with the local police department, airport officials, and Southwest Airlines.
“We will work closely with the prosecutors at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas to thoroughly investigate this incident and potentially bring federal charges,” the statement continued.
More specific details were not revealed, but Hagan reaffirmed in an interview that any physical confrontation or assault on board a U.S. passenger plane comes under the FBI’s purview once the aircraft leaves its gate.
If charges are ultimately filed, it would be the responsibility of the U.S. attorney in Arkansas.
The assault occurred on one of the busiest travel days expected this holiday season.
