Chanting passenger forces return of Kona-bound flight to Seattle

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Kona was turned around 90 minutes into the trip because of a disruptive passenger, according to an airlines spokesperson.

Alaska Airlines flight 877 was approximately 90 nautical miles from Seattle when a passenger seated near the front of the plane's main cabin began chanting, the spokesperson said. The chanting made passengers uncomfortable, and crewmembers asked the man to stop.

When he refused, out of concern for the safety of the passengers on the flight, the plane's captain made the decision to return to Seattle.

Local law enforcement officials met the plane when it landed in Seattle at around 9:30 p.m., and the man was removed from the plane.

The flight departed again nearly an hour later, and landed in Kona at just after 1:15 a.m. Thursday morning.

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