Woman removed from flight after reportedly stabbing passenger with pen

CHICAGO — A plane departing from Chicago’s Midway Airport Thursday was forced to return to the gate after an altercation between to passengers.

As the plane was taxing on the runway, passengers say a woman jabbed a pen into the arm of the man next to either stop him from snoring or to move his hand that was touching her arm.

Initial reports via Twitter from a fellow passenger referred to the incident as the woman “stabbing” the man in the arm with a pen.

Southwest downplays the incident saying in a statement, “A customer on Flight 577 was removed from the flight for poking her seatmate with a pen to stop him from snoring.”

The statement went on to say, “The flight departed shortly after the passenger was removed and is now on its way to MHT. The passenger in question will be accommodated on a later flight. No injuries were reported.”

Southwest airlines flight 577 finally took off two hours after a passenger stabbed or poked her seatmate with a pen.  It happened about 1:45 as the plane, heading to Manchester, New Hampshire just outside of Boston, was about to take off.

Chicago police officers escorted the woman off the plane.  She remains at the airport where she may face charges.  Another woman said the passenger named Lenny was okay but was sore and shocked at what had happened.

Original article can be found here:  http://wgntv.com