Flight From SFO To Boston With Gov. Chris Christie Aboard Delayed, Searched
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CBS SF) -- A flight destined for Boston from San Francisco International Airport, with presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on board, returned to the gate to remove a passenger.
SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said United Flight 1108, schedule to depart at 8:32 a.m., had to remove a passenger during taxi.
Yakel said passengers became uncomfortable when a fellow passenger began taking pictures of flight attendants.
MyFoxBoston.com reports Christie was on that flight and people were removed five at a time to be searched individually.
Christie's campaign spokesperson Maria Comella said the governor was not threatened, despite the chatter on social media.
"Governor Chris Christie, an aide and a member of his security detail were traveling on a United flight from San Francisco to Boston this morning when a passenger was removed from the plane before takeoff at the request of United Airlines," Comella said. "At no point did Governor Christie interact with this passenger nor did this passenger pose a verbal or physical threat to the Governor. Any other inquires about this matter should be directed to United Airlines."
Initially passenger David Berlind tweeted that a threat was made to Christie, forcing the plane to return to the gate.
Berlind later tweeted "He wasn't threatened He saw a guy taking pics of crew & emailing them in Arabic (said his seatmate)"
A Transportation Security Administration spokesman said the decision to return to the gate was "pilot discretion," and the agency was not involved.
Flightstats.com showed the flight was delayed more than three hours. Shortly after 1:30 p.m. PT the plane was taxiing from the gate and set to depart.
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