GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) – A Breeze Airways plane, en route to Los Angeles International Airport, was diverted to Grand Junction, Colorado, due to an “unruly passenger,” police said Wednesday.
The passenger, whom police have not publicly identified, was reportedly intoxicated, agitated, and yelling racist slurs at airline staff while waving a skateboard. Police say the flyer was restrained twice but broke free each time.
The flight, which took off from Norfolk International Airport in Virginia, was ultimately diverted to Grand Junction late Wednesday morning. There, the passenger was taken into custody by Grand Junction Police at the direction of the FBI.
Nexstar’s KREX captured the photo below from the scene, which shows a set of stairs that had been brought to the flight parked on a tarmac. Several law enforcement vehicles were also on scene.
The passenger has since been taken to a detention facility, police said. An investigation is now underway.
A spokesperson for Grand Junction Regional Airport told KREX that Breeze Airways was working to provide a plane for passengers to continue on to Los Angeles. In a statement to KREX, Breeze Airways said, “Our focus now is on taking care of our Crew and remaining Guests who have been unfairly inconvenienced by this unfortunate event and getting them safely to their final destination as quickly as possible.”