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'Total misunderstanding' causes plane to return to New York

NEW YORK (CNN) -- An American Eagle flight from New York to Cleveland, Ohio, was turned back Monday to New York's LaGuardia Airport and passengers were rescreened after a "total misunderstanding" caused a security breach, an official said.

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The incident occurred when security personnel asked an American Eagle passenger to stand aside so his bag could be checked by hand, said Pasquale Difulco, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Difulco said the man either did not hear or misunderstood the request, walked way from the checkpoint with the bag and boarded the plane without being properly screened.

"It was a total misunderstanding," Difulco said.

The pilot of American Eagle Flight 4403 was informed of the security breach after the plane was about 100 miles from LaGuardia Airport. The plane turned back and landed without incident, the FAA said.

As a result of the security breach, LaGuardia's Terminal C concourse was shut down.

Passengers were rescreened, and the concourse was reopened. The flight later took off for Cleveland.