Flight Diverted to Memphis After Man Tries to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight

An AirTran flight was diverted on Monday after a man tried to open one of the plane's emergency exit doors mid-flight.

AirTran Flight 265, heading from Baltimore to Austin, was diverted to Memphis due to the passenger's scary behavior. AirTran is a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines. Brad Hawkins, a Southwest spokesman confirmed the incident to Memphis station WREG-TV. The flight was over Little Rock when the pilot made the decision to divert the flight, Reuters reports.

There were four military personnel on board who helped detain the man and escorted him back to his seat. They sat next to him until the flight landed in Memphis.

John Greaud, the vice president of operations at the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority that runs the Memphis airport, told WREG that officials met the plane as it landed and the passengers were interviewed over the incident. There were 120 passengers and five crew members on the flight. No injuries were reported.

Greaud says the man wasn't acting unruly and it is believed that he wasn't even intoxicated when he tried to open the plane door. The man was detained by the FBI for two hours. The FBI and airport officials will determine if any charges will be filed against the passenger.

The flight continued its trip to Austin after the issue was taken care of.

Passengers spoke to MyFoxAustin about the incident.

"Everyone was really calm and in good spirits and understanding. Luckily there were military personnel on the plane and they were really accommodating. It could have been way worse but it wasn't that bad," Tara Hamilton who was traveling with her young son said.

"It's the kind of thing you hear about and worry about and it was handled completely professionally and calmly," Patty Solum said when she arrived at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.