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Plane En Route To SFO Returns To Los Angeles After Passenger Fight

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Southwest Airlines says a jetliner on its way to San Francisco returned to Los Angeles International Airport after a fight between two passengers.

Spokeswoman Melissa Ford tells The Associated Press that FBI agents met the plane at the gate and that one person was removed Sunday night.

Ford says the pilot decided to return to LAX because of a "rapidly escalating" situation that culminated in a physical altercation. She did not elaborate but said the two passengers involved weren't traveling together.

However a woman who tweeted she was on board the flight at the time said a man was harassing a woman over a chair reclining.

It wasn't immediately clear if the passenger who was removed from the flight was arrested. A message seeking additional details from the FBI was not immediately returned Monday.

Ford says the remaining 136 passengers switched planes and arrived at San Francisco International Airport about five hours behind schedule.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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