Plane diverted after cabin ‘disturbance’
A Delta airliner bound for California was diverted to Shreveport, Louisiana and landed under escort from two fighter planes tonight after the pilot reported a disturbance in the cabin.
Flight 357, with 148 people aboard from Atlanta to Los Angeles, was diverted after what the airline described as a ‘‘passenger incident.’’
There was no immediate word on the nature of the disturbance, though the Federal Aviation Administration said the disturbance was under control.
The Boeing 757 reported the problem and landed 26 minutes later.
It was unclear where the two F-16 fighter planes took off from.
Delta spokeswoman Cindi Kurczewski said there were 139 passengers and nine crew members aboard the jetliner. She said the plane was diverted ‘‘due to a passenger incident,’’ but referred other questions to authorities.
The flight will continue to Los Angeles. No time was determined.
On Monday, two F-16s were sent to escort an American Airlines jetliner to a landing in Chicago after a deranged man burst into the cockpit.
Passengers tackled him, and the flight landed without further incident.
