Southwest flight diverted to Atlanta after passenger’s Ramadan prayer timer sparks alarm
4 min learnMar 8, 2026 05:58 PM IST
Flight passengers with their fingers above their heads. Legislation enforcement officers coming into in tandem after the aircraft made a detour. One passenger being taken off the flight.
Dramatic scenes have been witnessed on a Southwest Airways flight that was touring from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The flight was pressured to divert to Atlanta on Friday after a passenger was reported to be behaving suspiciously.
How did the tense scenes unfold within the air
Lower than an hour after takeoff from Nashville, passengers advised CBS Night Information that flight attendants out of the blue started dashing by means of the aisles. Shortly afterward, the captain knowledgeable passengers that the plane must make an emergency touchdown on the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport in Atlanta.
Passengers on board the Southwest flight mentioned they have been requested to organize for touchdown because the aircraft was redirected to Atlanta late Friday night time.
One passenger, Sarah Porter advised CBS Night Information that many individuals on the flight have been initially confused about what was taking place. “The primary time we realized there is perhaps somebody harmful on the aircraft was when a workforce boarded with weapons drawn,” she mentioned.
A Southwest flight touring from Nashville to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was pressured to make an emergency touchdown in Atlanta on Friday on account of a passenger appearing suspiciously. pic.twitter.com/WRh6JBJ7U3
— CBS Night Information with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) March 8, 2026
Why was the aircraft diverted
In keeping with communications with Air Visitors Management, the captain reported {that a} man on board was appearing in a regarding method. “He had a timer going off each 10 minutes, international languages, frightened about his baggage,” the captain mentioned.
Video from the scene exhibits officers boarding the aircraft and escorting a passenger off the plane.
What did the FBI say
In a press release, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the first home intelligence and regulation enforcement company beneath the US Division of Justice, mentioned that brokers together with the Atlanta Police Division (APD) questioned the person after touchdown. Authorities decided there was no credible menace and no expenses will probably be filed.
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One other passenger, Julie Porter, whereas speaking to CBS Night Information mentioned the state of affairs was unsettling however comprehensible. “With all the things taking place on the planet proper now, I really feel like you may’t be too cautious in conditions like this,” she mentioned.
Airline dials all passengers
A spokesperson for Southwest Airways mentioned passengers have been rebooked to proceed to their supposed locations and the airline apologised for the disruption brought on by the diversion.
Accoding to NBC 6 South FloridaSouthwest Airways supplied the next assertion:
“For background, the client in query was eliminated by the Atlanta police, in case you need to examine with them for added particulars. Prospects have been reaccommodated on one other plane (similar flight quantity, 2094) and continued on to Ft. Lauderdale, arriving simply earlier than 3:30 a.m. We’ve reached out to all the clients to apologise for the state of affairs.”
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Ramadan prayer timer doubtless at centre of incident
NBC 6 South Florida reported that Southwest Airways Flight 2094 was diverted to Atlanta on account of a misunderstanding involving a passenger’s ‘Ramadan prayer routine’. “NBC Information confirmed that the incident was a misunderstanding, and that the passenger had set a timer on his telephone in order that he can pray for Ramadan”, the report mentioned.
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