Flight Diverted After Passenger Found With Box Cutter: TSA

A flight headed to Tampa, Florida, was diverted to Atlanta, Georgia, after a passenger was found to have a box cutter, according to the airline and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

A Frontier Airlines spokesperson said “a passenger on board the aircraft was observed in possession of a box cutter” and that the passenger was later “taken into custody by Atlanta law enforcement.”

The flight was coming from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Other passengers were offered a new flight Saturday morning to Tampa. No injuries were reported.

Box cutters are banned from U.S. commercial flights, according to the TSA.

According to multiple outlets, the TSA said the plane was diverted around 9:30 p.m. Friday “after a disturbance involving a disruptive passenger, in possession of a box cutter was declared.”

TSA said in a statement on Saturday that the plane was diverted around 9:30 p.m. “after a disturbance involving a disruptive passenger, in possession of a box cutter was declared.”

The TSA also said a second box cutter was found in the person’s carry-on luggage.

The statement is in full as below:

“At approximately 9:30 p.m. EST on November 11, Frontier flight 1761 from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) bound for Tampa International Airport (TPA) elected to divert to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) after a disturbance involving a disruptive passenger, in possession of a box cutter was declared. The cockpit was secure and passengers were deplaned in ATL. FBI and Atlanta Police Department responded to the incident, took the suspect into custody and the flight was canceled. Following a search of the suspect, a second box cutter was discovered in the passenger’s carry-on.

“TSA takes its role in transportation security very seriously. The situation with the Frontier flight is under investigation with the US Attorney’s Office, as they are the lead federal agency in this matter. TSA has started an internal review of the incident by viewing CCTV, airport security checkpoint processes/operations and will continue to provide updates as they are available. TSA can confirm that blades are prohibited in the cabin, but allowed in checked luggage.”

Lillian Hoffman, a passenger, told NBC News that when the unidentified suspect went to the restroom, the person who was sitting beside them told her that they had a knife and was “threatening to stab people.”

“So, I went up to talk to the flight attendants in the front of the airplane,” Hoffman told the station. “They ended up telling me that they were going to land the plane immediately and we were down in 20 minutes.”

Atlanta police said the FBI is leading the investigation into the incident.