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Southwest flight lands in PHX after odd behavior

Posted at 7:38 PM, May 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-30 01:30:13-04

Airline officials say "unusual" passenger behavior led to the diversion of a Southwest flight from Los Angeles to Albuquerque.

Southwest Air says Flight 1271 was diverted to Sky Harbor International Airport after flight attendants relayed customer observations of unusual behavior of two passengers.

The plane landed without incident and was met by local law enforcement, the airline said.

Authorities questioned two people on board, and the plane was emptied of all 131 passengers and five crew members, per company procedures. Security and maintenance personnel checked out the aircraft before fliers reboarded the aircraft and it took off again.

Phoenix police said the two people questioned were ultimately released and referred questions as to potential charges to the Federal Aviation Administration, which said security fell under the jurisdiction of the TSA and local law enforcement. A message sent to the TSA was not immediately returned Sunday night.

Southwest said the flight was expected to arrive in Albuquerque about an hour and twenty minutes behind schedule.