Flight diverts after 'unruly' smoker battles attendant
By Ben Mutzabaugh,
USA TODAY

Updated 17h 55m ago


Passengers on a United flight operated by Continental Airlines made an unexpected stop in San Antonio last night. That came after a man on the flight apparently couldn't make it the whole way to California without a cigarette.
At least that's according to the San Antonio Express-News, which writes:


A Continental Airlines flight traveling from Houston to California had to be diverted here Tuesday evening because of an "unruly passenger" who reportedly lit a cigarette in the cabin and refused to put it out then fought with a flight attendant, officials said.


There were few details on the man's identity, but KHOU TV of Houston says the FBI took him into custody before Flight 1287 resumed its journey to the Ontario airport in Southern California.


The man could face federal charges, San Antonio police Capt. Cris Andersen tells the Express-News.


The incident delayed the flight's arrival by about two hours.


Continental, of course, is now part of a merged United Airlines under the parent company United Continental Holdings. In its story from November, The Associated Press writes that "the so-called single operating certificate means that, as far as the FAA is concerned, United and Continental are one airline."