A passenger with box cutters prompted a Frontier Airlines flight to make an emergency landing in Atlanta, airline says

ATLANTA, Ga. (CNN) — A Frontier Airlines passenger necessitated an unexpected emergency landing and was afterwards taken into custody Friday night right after he was identified with a box cutter, according to an airline spokesperson.

A next box cutter was later observed in the passenger’s have-on luggage, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) told CNN on Saturday afternoon.

Frontier Airlines Flight 1761 from Cincinnati to Tampa was diverted to Atlanta soon after the passenger was found with the box cutter, spokesperson Jennifer De La Cruz told CNN in a assertion.

“The aircraft landed properly in Atlanta and the passenger in question was taken into custody by Atlanta legislation enforcement,” De La Cruz mentioned.

There were no accidents to travellers or crew users, according to the airline.

All travellers left the plane and had been provided overnight resort lodging in Atlanta. A new flight was scheduled for Saturday morning to acquire them to Tampa.

Agents failed to stick to protocol, TSA claims

The TSA said in a assertion on Sunday it reviewed Friday’s incident and identified its safety checkpoint brokers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Worldwide Airport failed to adhere to protocol when they identified a box cutter in the man’s carry-on luggage, which later induced the diversion when he allegedly threatened travellers mid-flight.

The particular person in custody, who has not nonetheless been recognized, went through the physical screening immediately after presenting agents with a non permanent Ohio driver’s license. The traveler was carrying two backpacks and added free products by way of security, the TSA stated.

The agency mentioned the brokers did not thoroughly use the technologies at their disposal, which would have identified the box cutters inside the man’s carry-on luggage, nor did they follow protocol when they returned the removable “seen blades” back to the passenger after an inspection.

The man’s baggage was scanned “applying CT technology,” which the TSA says results in a 3-D picture that can be rotated 360 levels for even more inspection.

“Pursuing overview of the incident, together with shut-circuit television (CCTV), the graphic overview capabilities of the CT ended up not entirely employed,” the agency said.

“The box cutters ended up not identified by the CT operator, but his home was identified for a even further lookup. During the search, a person box cutter was learned. The noticeable blades have been taken out from the box cutter and provided again to the passenger,” TSA’s assertion ongoing.

This is opposite to the standard working process, according to the TSA, which involves that blades be positioned in checked luggage or “voluntarily abandoned.”

The man’s backpack, containing the other box cutter and the rest of the man’s property, was screened for explosives, but the box cutter was not found at that time, TSA reported.

The personnel included in the incident have been positioned in a “schooling standing” for remediation on CT impression overview and lookup methods, according to the statement.

The agency reported it will perform “shift briefs” on the incident for all Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Point out of Kentucky staff, as perfectly as routine nationwide and statewide trainings on technology applications and prohibited products.

Passenger alerted flight crew to possibility

Lillian Hoffman, who was on board the aircraft, advised CNN affiliate WLWT that she alerted the flight crew to the armed man after being made conscious of him by another passenger.

“So, I went up and talked to the flight attendants at the entrance of the airplane and allow them know like this man has a box knife, and he is been telling us that he would like to stab folks,” Hoffman stated.

The US Attorney’s Place of work has taken the direct on investigating the circumstance, in accordance to the TSA.

“TSA has commenced an inner overview of the incident by viewing CCTV, airport stability checkpoint processes/operations and will continue on to offer updates as they are offered. TSA can verify that blades are prohibited in the cabin, but permitted in checked baggage,” according to the assertion on Saturday.

The Atlanta Law enforcement Department directed all issues about the incident to the FBI when contacted by CNN.

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