Handcuffed, Led From Plane

The FAA is investigating what was apparently a full-blown shouting match between its FSDO chief in Kansas City and the cabin crew aboard a Southwest Airlines flight. The 62-year old FAA manager was reportedly led from the aircraft in handcuffs.

According to a police report obtained by the Kansas City Star, Marion Dittman was detained after the flight landed at Kansas City International last week. The report said she became verbally combative after Dittman reported a commotion in the cabin to a male flight attendant.

The attendant told Dittman he would handle the matter and ordered her to return to her seat because the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign had been illuminated. That, according to the police report, is when the shouting started. It ended with Dittman shoving the FA in the chest, the report said. When the attendant told her she could be arrested, Dittman reportedly said, "No you won't" and told the FA she was with the FAA.

The Star reported Dittman was confronted by the TSA as she deplaned and told she would be detained for questioning. Authorities said FSDO manager threw her hands in the air and demanded to talk to the captain. That's when federal officials said she was handcuffed.

The flight attendant later told agents he didn't want to press charges, but the matter is still under FAA investigation.

An FAA spokesman told the Star no decision had been reached on whether to file charges against Dittman.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.southwest.com