Man released after AirTran incident

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- A Bolivian man police described as "mentally challenged" was taken into custody, then released, because he asked to be shown the cockpit of an Atlanta-to-Miami AirTran flight.

Flight 501 landed without incident, and the passenger, 49 years old, was questioned by the FBI, then released without being charged, police told CNN.

About 15 minutes into the flight an attendant saw the passenger leave his seat and walk toward the cockpit of the Boeing 717 aircraft, according to a spokesman for AirTran.

"He insisted on speaking with the captain in the cockpit," said Tad Hutcheson, a spokesman for AirTran. The flight had 81 passengers aboard and five crew members.

According to the FBI, the man spoke in broken English and told the flight attendant he "wanted to go in there," indicating the cockpit.

The man said, "I'd like a tour of the cockpit," Miami-Dade Police Detective Ed Munn said. The flight attendant responded, "Sir, we don't provide tours while we're in flight. Please return to your seat.''

The flight attendant escorted the man back to his seat, Hutcheson said, where he remained for the duration of the flight.

Munn said the captain notified the airline and authorities in Miami of the incident and the flight continued with no further problems. The plane landed as scheduled about 11:15 a.m. EDT.

The man continued to make requests to see the cockpit, Miami-Dade Police said.

Hutcheson said the man was connecting to a flight to Bolivia in Miami. The man's ticket said he was required to be accompanied by his mother. The two continued their trip to Bolivia after he was freed.

In describing the passenger, FBI spokeswoman Judy Orehuela told CNN "he was on medication" during the flight.

Heather Rosenker of the Transportation Security Administration said "there was a misunderstanding of the request" by the passenger. She didn't elaborate, but FAA officials said there was a language problem.

-- CNN Correspondents Patty Davis and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.