Drunk passenger's threats caused emergency diversion

Things got out of hand after a passenger was denied the alcohol he had brought on board Alaska Airlines Flight 769 Tuesday evening.

The flight from Boston to San Diego made an emergency diversion to Denver after a passenger in row 13 started issuing threats to the crew and fellow passengers.

According to passengers, the man became agitated after flight crew forbid him from drinking the small shot bottles of alcohol he brought onboard. FAA regulations state that passengers can only drink alcohol that has been served onboard by the airline. 

"He was drunk and belligerent," airline spokeswoman Ann Zaninovich told Mashable. "Passengers and crew tried to calm him down but he was not responsive. He ultimately made threats and the decision was made to divert to the closest airport."

The pilot diverted to Denver International Airport, in "an abundance of caution," according to the airline.

"He got very belligerent, saying, 'OK, but you know that now we are all going to die.' He kept saying, 'I'm not a terrorist but we're going to die,'" passenger Claire Conroy told NBC News.

Police escorted the man off the plane. 

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"Do we clap?" one passenger can be heard saying.

A few passengers did.

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The man was arrested, but no charges were pressed according to NBC.

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The other passengers spent about an hour on the ground in Denver. The flight then continued onto San Diego, arriving about a quarter after 10 p.m.

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