Authorities in New York have detained a Spirit Airlines passenger, who allegedly made a threat as a flight was preparing to leave Monday.
Spirit Airlines Flight 197 was preparing to depart New York City's LaGuardia Airport for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Monday morning when "a customer would not comply with instructions to turn off his cell phone and made a threat to the flight crew," according to an airline spokesperson.
The customer was removed from the aircraft and the local port authority police and the TSA are handling the situation, the spokesperson said in a statement. While nothing was found in the search of the suspect or his bag, he is being questioned and may be charged for making a threat, according to WNBC's Jonathan Dienst.
As a precaution, passengers were rescreened and bags were rechecked, NBCNewYork.com reported.
There were 145 passengers and five crew members aboard the plane, according to the local port authority press office.
The airline said the Airbus A320 aircraft was released and the flight was planned to resume.
WNBC's chief investigative correspondent Jonathan Dienst contributed to this story.