A Delta Air Lines flight faced an unexpected delay at Miami International Airport after a passenger allegedly refused to end a phone call, forcing the aircraft to return to the gate.
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Police identified the passenger as Shannon Marie Harris from Tyrone, Georgia.
Authorities arrested her at the scene, and she now faces at least one trespassing-related charge.
Delta Air Lines Flight Returns to Gate After Passenger Refuses Instructions
The incident unfolded on April 27 on Delta Flight 1323 as the aircraft prepared for departure.
According to a police report, Harris ignored repeated instructions from crew members to end her phone call while the plane was taxiing.
The captain made the decision to return to the gate, where a supervisor asked Harris to leave the aircraft.
When she refused to comply, police were called to intervene. Officers described Harris as "belligerent" during the encounter.
"A customer did not comply with repeated crew instructions to end their phone call while the aircraft was taxiing out," a Delta spokesperson said. "The customer became disruptive, and the aircraft returned to the gate where [the passenger] was removed from the aircraft."
"The safety of our customers and crew comes before all else, and Delta has zero tolerance for disruptive behavior. We apologize to our customers for this experience and delay in their travels."
After the plane returned, airline staff instructed all passengers to disembark.
Authorities say Harris attempted to leave with the rest of the passengers, but officers quickly identified and arrested her.
