HOUSTON (AP) — Police say an 86-year-old partially blind man who cannot speak English became unruly onboard a Spirit Airlines flight to Florida, compelling the pilot to divert to Houston.
Spirit Airlines says Flight 310 from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport early Sunday due to a "disruptive customer."
According to reports, the flight was landed for 14 hours, before passengers were transported to Dallas for another flight.
Police spokesman Kese (KEES) Smith said Monday the man apparently spoke only French and was traveling alone. Smith said he became frightened and swung at other passengers. Police found an interpreter and contacted the man's son, who flew to Houston and accompanied his father to Florida.
Smith did not provide the man's name.
Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson says the other passengers were assigned to a new flight on Sunday and that they will be refunded for the inconvenience.
