An unruly passenger was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight in Chicago on Saturday after being "verbally abusive" to the flight attendants, officials said.
The incident took place on Southwest Flight 5593, from Midway International Airport to Houston's Hobby Airport Saturday morning, the airline said in a statement. [[493913881, C]]
A passenger "refused to comply with our flight crew’s instructions after boarding and before the flight departed," Southwest said. She then "became unruly and verbally abusive" toward the flight attendants, the airline said.
Witnesses said the woman used racial slurs toward the flight attendant who asked her to put her tray table up for takeoff, according to multiple reports. [[487291481, C]]
Staff made the decision to return to the gate, remove her from the flight and turn her over to local law enforcement. Chicago police said that at around 8:16 a.m., officers escorted the woman off the premises of the airport.
The flight resumed and arrived in Houston roughly an hour later than its scheduled timing.
The woman was not arrested or charged in the incident, according to Chicago police.
