'Ruckus' leads pilot to make unscheduled landing

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (CNN) -- Police removed at least eight passengers from an America West jet that made an unscheduled landing here Thursday after the pilot told flight controllers there was a fight aboard the plane.

Flight 2193 was nearly full, carrying 165 passengers and a crew of seven, said airport spokeswoman Maggie Santiago.

It had taken off at 10:30 a.m. from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was en route to Las Vegas when the pilot made the request to land at Albuquerque International Airport, said Santiago. "He said there was a ruckus on board," she said, but could provide no further details.

She said "about four" women were among the passengers taken off the plane by police.

Authorities boarded the Boeing 757, which landed at 12:25 p.m. (2:25 p.m. ET). The Federal Aviation Administration and FBI were both interviewing passengers, she said.

There were no reports of injuries.

Passengers on the plane, which was to have landed in Las Vegas at 11 a.m. (2 p.m. ET), would be taken to their destination "as soon as we possibly can," said Janice Monahan, a spokeswoman for America West, which is based in Tempe, Arizona.

America West
Federal Aviation Administration

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