Diverted NW Airlines Flight

from the McClatchy Washington Bureau, portions from WDIV Detroit TV 4

A Northwest Airlines plane flying from Amsterdam to India was escorted back to the airport by Dutch F-16 fighter jets and police arrested 12 passengers whose behavior had aroused the crew’s suspicion.

Several federal air marshals appeared in the front of the cabin, hanging their badges around their necks to keep order shortly after they observed the passengers in the rear trying to use cell phones and passing them around during and shortly after takeoff from Amsterdam. Cell phone use is barred on both U.S. and international flights. Some of the passengers also were trying to change seats. The pilots then requested an escort to land.

Twelve passengers were arrested in the Netherlands, where authorities have 72 hours to hold them without charges. They were being kept overnight in detention cells at the airport, while the rest of the 149 passengers are at hotels.

Northwest said it hopes to try the flight again Thursday.