San Diegans cause Southwest Airlines plane diversion

A Southwest Airlines plane en route from San Diego to Chicago was diverted to Amarillo yesterday (August 31) because of alleged misbehavior of six San Diego area residents. They were taken off the plane by law-enforcement officials. The crew and passengers also had to deplane.

According to a complaint filed with the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, the six passengers, who were sitting together on the plane, were disruptive and did not comply with instructions. They initially refused to put their seats upright and tray tables up. They allegedly talked loudly, used profanity, and refused a flight attendant's request to quiet down. They became aggressive when refused alcohol and called the flight attendant racist, according to the complaint.

The men, ranging in age from 19 to 23, are Saiman Hermez, Jonathan Khalid Petras, Ghazwan Asaad Shaba, Essa Solaqa, Khalid Yohana, and Wisam Imad Shaker.