NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A New York City–bound American Airlines flight had to be diverted over the weekend after pepper spray went off in the passenger cabin, officials said Tuesday.
Flight 1680 was headed to LaGuardia Airport from Miami at 6:30 p.m. Sunday when a "disruptive incident involving a customer" forced the Boeing 737 to be diverted to Jacksonville, American Airlines said.
The exact circumstances surrounding the discharge are unclear, but the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed "a bottle of pepper spray was inadvertently sprayed in the cabin."
"The aircraft was cleaned after diverting and continued to LaGuardia Airport in New York without further incident," the FAA said, adding that it is investigating the incident.
People who said they were on the flight described the ordeal in a Reddit post, with one writing, "It was incredibly scary not being able to breathe, having burning skin/eyes, having everyone panicking around, and being stuck in a small space."
According to the Transportation Security Administration, "One 4 fl. oz. container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge." Mace and pepper spray are not allowed in carry-on bags.
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