A smoking passenger forced a Southwest Airlines flight to make an emergency landing at San Jose International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, the airline said.
Flight 1250 departed San Francisco International Airport and was headed to Los Angeles International Airport when the pilot reported a “mechanical difficulty,” said San Jose International Airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes.
The difficulty, Southwest explained in a statement, was a passenger who appeared to be smoking in a lavatory.
The aircraft landed safely in San Jose at about 4:10 p.m. and taxied to a gate under its own power, said Barnes, adding that the emergency did not impact operations at the airport.
The airline said it turned the alleged smoker over to authorities.
As for the remaining 32 passengers, Southwest said it was working to get them on to other flights.