WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A Delta flight from New York City to West Palm Beach had to be re-routed Monday night because of a dispute between passengers about a reclining seat.
Delta flight 2370 was diverted to Jacksonville International Airport after leaving LaGuardia International Airport because of a fight involving two passengers.
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"This woman who was sitting next to me, knitting actually, just tried to recline her seat back and the woman behind her started screaming and swearing," passenger Aaron Klipin explained. "The flight attendant came over and that just exacerbated what was going on and then she demanded that the flight land."
"Out of an abundance of caution, the captain elected to divert to the closest airport," Delta said in a statement.
Amy Fine, 32, of Boca Raton, was escorted off the plane by police in Jacksonville.
"She said something to the effect of, 'I don't care about the consequences, put this plane down now," Klipin said. "The flight attendants went and spoke with the captain while somebody was blocking her path to the cabin, and then a few minutes later an announcement came on that we were diverting to Jacksonville."
Fine was removed from the plane in Jacksonville and told police she was not being aggressive, but was simply upset over the recent death of her two dogs. Airport officials said she was not arrested and was allowed to rent a car to get back home.
The flight eventually continued on to Palm Beach International Airport, arriving after 11 p.m. Monday.
This is the third time a South Florida flight had to be diverted because of a passenger disruption in recent weeks.
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