CVG Frontier Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Atlanta

CINCINNATI (WXIX) -A Frontier Airlines flight from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), initially en route to Tampa, FL, made an emergency landing in Atlanta after a passenger had box cutters on board, according to Frontier Airlines.

Around 9:30 p.m. flight 1761 diverted to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after it was reported that the passenger had box cutters on board, Mancha said. It is unclear what kind of disturbance occurred.

“The aircraft landed safely in Atlanta and the passenger in question was taken into custody by Atlanta law enforcement,” the airline said in a statement.

The passengers deplaned the aircraft and Frontier Airlines said no injuries were reported.

Passengers were provided overnight hotel accommodations in Atlanta, with a new flight scheduled for Saturday morning to take passengers from Atlanta to Tampa.

Prior to taking off from CVG, the passenger came up to the TSA checkpoint with a ticket for a 7:23 p.m. flight to Tampa International Airport (TPA), Patricia Mancha, a spokesperson with TSA Southwest said.

According to Mancha, the passenger provided identification including a temporary Ohio drivers’ license and proceeded to the physical screening.

He had two backpacks and additional loose items that went through the CT technology property screening at CVG. The property screening machines create a 3-D image that can be rotated 360 degrees for a thorough analysis, Mancha added.

Mancha said in a statement provided to FOX19 NOW:

Following review of the incident, including closed-circuit television (CCTV), the image review capabilities of the CT were not fully used. The box cutters were not identified by the CT operator, but his property was identified for a further search. During the search, one box cutter was discovered. The visible blades were removed from the box cutter and provided back to the passenger. This is contrary to standard operating procedure which requires these items to be placed in checked bags or voluntarily abandoned. The backpack containing the other box cutter, and the remainder of the traveler’s property, was screened for explosives, but the box cutter was not discovered.

Mancha continued:

The TSA employees involved in this incident have been placed in a training status for remediation on CT image review and physical search procedures. TSA is also conducting shift briefs on the incident for all CVG and State of Kentucky employees, with reminders on proper disposition of box cutters and other prohibited items discovered during search. Statewide refresher training is being scheduled for CT image review, with emphasis on use of the image rotation and manipulation tools for optimal detection. Nationally, TSA will issue a shift brief for all screening employees on this incident with reminders on use of the technology tools and prohibited items.

FOX19 NOW also reached out to the FBI and has not heard back at this time.

We will update this story as more information is available.

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