Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Man's Boneheaded Move

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (TheBlaze/AP) -- Authorities say an AirTran flight was diverted to a Memphis airport after a passenger tried to open an emergency exit on the plane.

In an e-mail to Memphis station WREG-TV, Southwest Airlines spokesman Brad Hawkins says AirTran flight 265 was on its way from Baltimore to Austin, Texas, Monday evening when it had to make an emergency landing in Memphis because of the passenger's actions.

AirTran airplanes are seen on the tarmac at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on September 27, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In a trend of continuing airline consolidation Southwest Airlines, Co. will buy its rival AirTran Airways for an estimated $1.4 billion. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Watch the AP's video report about the incident:

John Greaud, the airport authority's vice president of operations, says the 120 passengers deplaned so officials could interview them about the incident and check the plane. The man was detained by the FBI for two hours and later taken away in a police car, according to WREG. He was described as neither unruly or intoxicated while detained.

But passengers told KTBC-TV the man who tried to open the door seemed to be acting suicidal at the time. Watch KTBC's report:

The flight later resumed its trip to Austin.

It wasn't immediately known if charges would be filed.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

--

[related]