Plane Forced To Land Immediately After TakeOff As Woman Passenger Fakes Medical Condition To Get Bigger Seat

A woman was arrested after she allegedly faked a medical condition on board an American Airlines flight, forcing it to make an emergency landing soon after takeoff Friday. The incident took place in Florida when the Miami-bound flight landed at the Pensacola International Airport.

The woman later clarified that she faked the medical condition in order to get a bigger seat but the pilot, not knowing the reality of the event declared an emergency and turned the flight back for landing at Pensacola airport, from where it took off. The woman was taken into custody.

Pensacola Police Department spokesperson Mike Wood said, “Once airborne, she told them she wanted a bigger seat. The pilot declared an emergency... once they got on the ground, she made it clear that she was faking the medical condition to get a bigger seat.”

The woman was detained under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows authorities to temporarily detain people who could pose a threat to themselves or others. The woman initially refused to deplane. All passengers were deboarded before the pilot and the authorities managed to take her off the plane.

Wood added, “Because of the things she said, she was taken into custody (under the Baker Act). Criminal charges have not been filed yet, but there may be some charges in the future.”

American Airlines issued a statement, “Earlier today, American Eagle 3508 returned to Pensacola due to a passenger who requested medical assistance. The flight took off at 5.43 a.m. (local time, 6.43 a.m EST) and landed back at Pensacola at 6.26 a.m. (local time, 7.26 a.m EST)and taxied to the gate. All passengers deplaned normally at the gate through the main boarding door and onto the jet bridge. The passenger was subsequently removed by law enforcement and medical personnel, and the flight took off again at 7.41 a.m. (local time, 8.41 a.m EST).”