A passenger exited through the back door of a Southwest Airlines plane as the plane headed to a landing area at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona, authorities said.
The incident occurred Saturday morning on Colorado Springs Flight 4236, which had just landed in Phoenix.
The man, who has not yet been identified, jumped for reasons that are still unknown from the aircraft and
entered the airport fire station
.
Passengers walk past a Southwest Airlines plane at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, March 26, 2021.Sue Ogrocki / AP
The captain stopped the plane and notified Air Traffic Control, the airline said in a statement Saturday afternoon.
"Local authorities responded to the situation and shortly thereafter the flight continued to the designated disembarkation gate with all the occupants and crew remaining on board," the statement said.
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The Phoenix Fire Department said the passenger, a 30-year-old man,
locked himself in a station room
for a few minutes until firefighters managed to get him to open the door.
The man was evaluated, treated and taken to hospital for an injury, Fire Capt. Todd Keller said in an email to The Associated Press.
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The incident did not delay airport operations, Sky Harbor spokeswoman Julie Rodríguez said.
Authorities have yet to reveal what caused the incident, as well as the identity or condition of the passenger or whether charges will be brought against him.
