Passenger who made terrorism comments removed from United jet in San Diego

A passenger who made comments about terrorism was removed from a United Airlines jet before takeoff at Lindbergh Field on Tuesday morning, officials said.

He made no threats but his general statements about terrorism “made some people nervous,” San Diego Harbor Police Lt. John Forsythe said.

“There was no violation of the law. He had some mental issues. We interviewed him and took him to a hospital for mental health evaluation.”

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The man had boarded United Airlines Flight 662 to San Francisco when he made the statements, said Jonathan Heller, airport spokesman.

He said he had no information that the statements were directly connected to the terrorist bombings at the Brussels Airport and subway that killed more than 30 people and injured scores of others on Tuesday.

Airline staff took the man off the plane about 7 a.m. and turned him over to Harbor Police. Other passengers were in the process of boarding, Forsythe said.

Forsythe said officers interviewed him and realized he had mental health issues. He was not arrested.

Pauline Repard writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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