Altercation Between Passengers Forces Southwest Flight to Return to Airport

— -- A Southwest flight headed to San Francisco from Los Angeles was forced to return to Los Angeles International Airport after a physical altercation broke out between passengers, officials said.

Southwest described the Sunday night incident as a "physical altercation by one passenger against another," adding that it was a "rapidly escalating situation involving passengers who were not traveling together." Southwest did not elaborate on the altercation.

The pilot took the flight back to LAX, Southwest said, where law enforcement officers met the plane at the gate.

LAX said the flight returned due to a "disturbance onboard" and the FBI responded to the scene.

The FBI confirmed the assault allegation and said one person was detained for questioning and released, pending further investigation.

Southwest said the remaining passengers landed at San Francisco International Airport at 1:48 a.m. PST.