Southwest Passengers Forced Off Plane At Texas Airport After ‘civilian Model Taser’ Discovered

Passengers connected committee a Southwest Airlines formation astatine Houston’s Hobby Airport had to beryllium deplaned and re-screened aft a taser was found.

A unit personnel connected Southwest Flight 28 to Dallas Love Field discovered a civilian‑model taser earlier takeoff, a rule enforcement root told KPRC 2. These legal, non-lethal self-defense devices occurrence 2 mini probes pinch compressed nitrogen, giving a speedy daze that tin temporarily disable an attacker.

The aviator instantly deplaned passengers and contacted TSA, which conducted afloat information screenings of travelers and their carry-on bags. Houston Airport System unit and rule enforcement escorted passengers done nan terminals during nan process.

After nan further checks, each passengers were allowed to re-board, and nan formation departed astir 2 and a half hours later.

“Due to a imaginable information concern, nan determination was made to re-screen nan Passengers connected Southwest Flight 28 from Houston to Dallas connected Tuesday,” a Southwest spokesperson told The Independent. “Nothing is much important to Southwest than nan Safety of our Customers and Employees.”

Travelers reported further screenings upon presence successful Dallas, wherever authorities verified IDs and inspected carry-on luggage earlier connecting flights.

Law enforcement confirmed nan taser did not beryllium to a Southwest unit personnel aliases immoderate officer, nan root told KPRC 2. Southwest besides deferred immoderate petition for further specifications to TSA and rule enforcement.

The Independent has contacted TSA and nan Hobby Airport Police Division for comment.

The Houston taser incident is nan latest successful a drawstring of hose information issues successful caller months. In February, a Delta formation from Hobby Airport was forced to move backmost soon aft takeoff erstwhile a rider became convulsive and attempted to attack nan cockpit, forcing different travelers restraining him.

Southwest Airlines has faced its ain disruptions, including a formation diverted to Atlanta earlier this period complete a passenger-related information interest involving a telephone timer, while a rider was besides arrested for assaulting an off-duty national serviceman midflight betwixt Miami and Denver.

Airport operations person been affected by a Department of Homeland Security backing lapse, leaving TSA officers moving without pay. During parts of nan engaged outpouring break recreation period, much than half of nan scheduled TSA screeners astatine Hobby called out, resulting successful information lines exceeding 2 hours.

The FAA declined KPRC 2’s petition for remark connected nan business saying, “The FAA is simply a information regulator, not a information agency.”

The Independent has contacted nan FAA for comment.