Local

Video shows officers escorting man off plane at Pittsburgh International

PITTSBURGH — Channel 11's Cara Sapida has confirmed that a man was escorted off a flight leaving Pittsburgh International Airport Monday morning.

According to witnesses, the passenger was voicing his complaints to an American Airlines gate agent about having to check his carry-on luggage (Watch raw video above).

The agent allegedly told the man a customer service team would address his complaint. Witnesses said the man was well mannered and did not raise his voice.  The man then boarded the plane.

Allegheny County police said the man reportedly made a vulgar remark to the flight attendant, so the pilot called police for the passenger to be escorted off the plane. Superintendent Charles Moffatt said any time a pilot requests a passenger to be removed they respond immediately.

"Passenger was disruptive and failed to follow crew member instructions and was removed from aircraft by local authorities,” said American Airlines spokesperson Kent Powell.

Channel 11 News obtained video from on board the plane that shows an officer did pull a Taser when the passenger questioned why he was being removed.  But the passenger cooperated and the Taser was not used.

The man was not arrested and allowed to book a new flight, Moffatt said.

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