A United Airlines flight carrying New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was delayed Friday after a passenger was removed from the plane.
A source with knowledge of the situation told CNN there is no indication that the passenger, who the source said was a man, crossed paths with the New Jersey governor. The source said after the plane pushed back from the terminal, the passenger got out of his seat, paced back and forth and took pictures of flight crew and customers.
The flight crew instructed him to sit but he did not follow their instructions, so the crew decided to turn the plane around, the source added.
United Airlines said the plane’s passengers had to leave the aircraft, and the police and Transportation Security Agency officers met the plane to remove the passenger.
“United Airlines is working to accommodate customers of flight 1108 to Boston after the flight was delayed in San Francisco due to a disruptive customer on board,” the airline said in a statement.
“Governor Christie, an aide and a member of his security detail were traveling on a United flight from San Francisco to Boston this morning when a passenger was removed from the plane before takeoff at the request of United Airlines,” Christie’s spokeswoman, Maria Comella, said in a statement.
“At no point did Governor Christie interact with this passenger nor did this passenger pose a verbal or physical threat to the Governor. Any other inquiries about this matter should be directed to United Airlines,” she added.
