A Southwest Airlines flight bound for South Florida diverted to Atlanta on Friday night after passengers became alarmed by the behavior of a fellow traveler. But what initially appeared to be a serious security incident ultimately turned out to be something far more mundane.
Southwest Flight Diverts After Passenger Prayer Alarm Sparks Security Scare
A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale diverted to Atlanta on Friday evening after what the airline described as a possible security matter involving a passenger.
Southwest Flight 2094 departed Nashville International Airport (BNA) and was en route to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) when the crew elected to divert to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The aircraft landed safely around 9:06 pm, where Atlanta police boarded the aircraft and removed one passenger. Federal authorities later determined there was no credible threat and no charges were filed.
The diversion added hours to the journey for passengers, who were eventually re-accommodated on another aircraft and arrived in Fort Lauderdale around 3:30 a.m. the following morning.
Passengers Alarmed By Behavior In Cabin
Passengers onboard say the situation began when a man seated in the cabin started praying aloud while a timer repeatedly sounded on his phone.
One passenger who recorded video of the incident described the scene shortly before the diversion.
“He has a timer going off on his phone every 10 minutes and he’s praying in a foreign language,” the passenger said, adding that the man “appeared nervous” and repeatedly asked a flight attendant where his bag was. (The obligatory daily prayers, called Salah, in Islam are performed in Arabic to maintain consistency, unity, and adherence to the tradition of Prophet Muhammad)
According to passengers, the behavior raised concerns among some travelers and crew members, prompting the captain to divert the flight about an hour after takeoff. We are currently in Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims fast during daylight hours and are asked to continue their five daily obligatory prayers, with many adding extra voluntary prayers throughout the day and night.
After landing in Atlanta, the aircraft reportedly taxied to a remote area of the airport surrounded by emergency vehicles before law enforcement boarded the aircraft. Passengers say officers entered the cabin with weapons drawn and ordered travelers to keep their heads down and their hands up before escorting the man off the plane.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation later confirmed there was no credible threat.
Southwest Airlines said the diversion occurred “out of an abundance of caution” and later described the incident as a misunderstanding involving a passenger’s behavior.
My Take
I struggle with what to think about this incident. On the one hand, passengers should absolutely report behavior that appears threatening. Flight crews cannot ignore credible concerns at 35,000 feet and if a timer was repeatedly going off and this man was praying loudly…sorry, it’s not bigotry to be threatened by that because it’s not something that most Muslims would do anywhere, let alone on airplane. It’s very odd…especially if he was sweating and repeatedly asking about where his bag was, as has been alleged.
Praying loudly is also incredibly rude and disturbing to other passengers, more akin to listening to music without headphones than chatting with a seatmate.
Was a diversion necessary? I’d like to think not because passengers was screened by the TSA, just like everyone else onboard, before boarding the aircraft. But once the words “possible security threat” enter the equation, there is almost no path for a flight crew other than diverting the aircraft. Still, whether one passenger’s concern should quickly lead to a diversion, tactical police boarding the aircraft, and a nine-hour travel day for everyone onboard is certainly debatable.
CONCLUSION
A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale diverted to Atlanta after passengers reported concerning behavior from a fellow traveler who was praying while a timer repeatedly sounded on his phone. Authorities ultimately determined there was no credible threat, but the incident still triggered a major security response and a lengthy delay for passengers.
I struggle to process stories like this. It’s hard to judge passengers for being afraid if the man did what has been alleged (repeated timer, sweating, asking where bag was, praying out loud in Arabic). On the other hand, the man did not stroll onto the airplane from the street…he had to walk through a body scanner and have his bags x-rayed just like everyone else. Shouldn’t that have been enough?
What do you think about this incident?
“Speak American!” … *facepalm*
Probably a valid discrimination claim (where all my ‘religious freedom’ conservatives on here? Psh.)
It’s not the prayer that would made me nervous or even the alarm, though that seems strange, but the sweating and asking FA repeatedly where his bag was? That seems super suspicious to me…
Oh man. For me, it’d be the frequent visits to the lavatory. I purposely dehydrate myself these days. Otherwise, I’ll be up every 15 minutes. Sheesh. I think it’s the whole ‘aging’ thing (prostate) and also the ‘excitement’ of travel. Just odd that it makes me feel the need to pee so much. LOL.
TMI …Be grateful It’s #1 & not #2 ! .. lol
1990
I am with Matthew.
People should be able to pray and express religion.
But when you do it very publicly, then you are going to set off concerns w/ other people
The part that I struggle with is why this crew – or any other crew bcause this kind of thing has happened before – didn’t or can’t ask the guy what he is doing and request that he observe his faith more quietly.
People from other parts of the world simply need to undersatnd that westerners generally are not opposed to other people’s practice of religion but they don’t want it to interfere w/ them.
There are lots of things that shouldn’t take place in an enclosed metal tube and loud, uninvited expressions of religion is one of them.
I’m not sure that would I would trust TSA screening as being foolproof unfortunately.
Their own audits prove time and time again that it is not.
Especially given that they haven’t been paid in a month. They’re dealing with other stresses in their lives that could have a negative impact on their ability to focus on their job. Additionally, those alarms could be alerting him to what’s about to happen in his suitcase located in the belly of the plane that may have snuck past security.
My substitute doctor passed out during my appointment during Ramadan. It’s quite the medical conundrum as dehydration can cause some to sweat heavily. At any rate, I am sure it was a frightening moment for everyone and you have to go with safest thoughts at the time..
Did the flight attendants at least try to ‘interview’ the passenger and ask what was causing his unsettled demeanor? That may have calmed the situation as well as offering some reassurance to him.
Agreed. There is zero indication that any member of the flight crew actually engaged the passenger to ascertain what was going on (not to say they didn’t but there is no reference at all). I’ve travelled extensively in the Middle East and prayers on Arab airlines or ElAl are not that unusual. If the passenger was acting nervous perhaps he was afraid to fly. It seems like a conversation between the passenger and the crew might have resolved to situation without another example of federal excess force being applied to everyone aboard.
Strange behavior, ranging from simply rude to neurotic to scary.
According to my experience & research, adherents to Islam are allowed to pray SILENTLY during Ramadan, according to Clerics, as long as certain conditions are met: be in a Clean area, avoid Distraction & follow Timing. Five prayers a day are normal during Ramadan — prayers said aloud every few moments are not the norm.
The person who worried passengers should not be allowed on another flight anytime soon, at least until interviewed and documented. I’ve had many Muslim students and colleagues, and NONE of them would have acted this way at work or school, much less in a plane 35K feet in the air.
This is not only a false report but also a hate crime, plain and simple.
No, it’s not. It’s that simple.
Reminds me of the incident where the passenger reported a dark skin manned with an accent writing in a “cryptic” language during an American Airlines boarding. What was the language? Math. He was an economic professor working on economics.
I read there was a 25 year flight attendant on this flight who was also uncomfortable. However, I think this spiraled out of control and could’ve been handled way better. There is Wi-Fi on the planes now. Use Google Translate if somebody doesn’t speak English if there is a problem to find out more information if you’re that concerned.
This is absolutely a discrimination issue. The crew decided to go overboard and claim a bomb threat just because the man was praying constantly in another language. I’m sure if a catholic was on a flight and saying “hail Mary’s” nonstop for the whole flight people wouldn’t have even videoed them. Thought they were odd but not elevate it. Just like many nonpracticing Muslims probably would’ve just ignored the man on this flight.
On the contrary, if I, Catholic woman, began loudly praying the rosary on a flight, nobody around me would have a problem telling me to shut up. And they might film it. “Look at the hot mess I had to sit beside on the plane” is a popular genre if the subject is Black or White.
Good points! But I’m not sure i would rely AS much on the TSA screening right now as they are understaffed and being pushed to the brink without pay .
Very odd and atypical behavior still has to be reported and managed according to protocol (with little wiggle room at 35,000 feet) regardless of if someone did or possibly didnt go thru TSA anyway…
So here is my take as the husband of a SWA flight attendant (25yrs). Do I think that on any average day that they overreacted? Yes! Do I think that days after we bombed Iran that this is an overreaction? No! The author of the article raises the point about TSA but fails to mention that HSA hasn’t been funded for nearly a month now and that TSA is working w/o pay and has the stresses of that on them which could diminish their focus on their job. He also doesn’t mention that there could be a bomb located in the man’s luggage located in the belly of the plane that squeaked through security checks and the alarms on his phone could be giving him updates as to when it’s supposed to go off.
Those asking about the FAs taking with the man, investigating more, etc. . . . forget it. FAs, especially newly hired, are not equipped with the skills to do this and make any type of determination as to this man’s intentions. They’re just not. They can barely hand out snacks w/o creating some problem.
Had there been a real incident on this plane, all of you would be here now saying, “weren’t there signs of trouble?” “why didn’t the crew do something?” – You do the best with what you have and erring on the side of caution is always the best approach.
For those of you calling this racism or discrimination, taken in isolation, I could agree with you. Taken with all of the current circumstances and the man’s behavior, I respectfully disagree.
Agreed!
The day after the United States bombed Iran we should be racially profiling folks speaking Arabic and praying. Great take, more racism and Islamophobia is definitely going to make the situation better.
Don’t twist words, dear.
Shame on Southwest for not training their team with better cultural awareness. The fact of the matters is that it is Ramadan and these prayers are made to be said out loud and on time each day. It does not matter where you are. Hopefully he files a lawsuit, claims money, and can retire and heal from this traumatizing experience.
This was pretty clearly racist and Islamophobic. Folks pray all the time in public places including planes and some of the comments here around oh you should have prayed more quietly are incredibly silly. You may not like it but labeling someone a security threat and sic’ing the FBI on them is horrific.
Asking for your bag repeatedly? That’s the problem. not the prayer. But you knew that, agitator…
Just last week, a woman boarded a plane AGAIN without a boarding pass! This is her second time doing this. Did she manage to sneak through TSA without a ticket or pass?, I don’t know, but what I do know is that she managed to get onto the plane.
The diversion may be reasonable but heads down and hands up is not