A Hawaiian Airlines passenger plane made a belated landing on Maui last night after turning back to Portland, Ore., under the escort of armed fighter jets.

The plane turned around after a passenger caused a disturbance in the cabin, but officials said later the incident didn't appear to be terrorism related.

Two passengers, a man and woman, were questioned and released yesterday without charges after Hawaiian Airlines Flight 39 landed back in Portland.

A 56-year-old Salem, Ore., man, whose name was not released, exhibited behavior that concerned the flight crew while the flight was heading to Hawaii, said FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele.

After the plane returned to Portland, the man was cooperative as Port of Portland police escorted him and a female companion off the plane, she said. The case has been forwarded to the U.S. Attorney's Office for a possible investigation.

The plane was searched before it departed again, the FBI said.

  Hawaiian Airlines takes no chances

 

A Hawaiian Airlines flight had to be diverted and escorted back to the airport in Oregon because of a disruptive passenger.

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The scare came at a time of heightened air security after the failed terror plot to blow up an airliner heading to Detroit on Christmas Day.

TSA spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino said the pilots decided to return to Portland when the passenger refused to store his carry-on baggage and made threatening remarks.

The Hawaiian flight took off from Portland about 10:15 a.m. with 231 passengers on board, said Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Keoni Wagner.

About 90 minutes into the flight, the crew reported a passenger causing a disturbance aboard the Boeing 767 and turned around, Wagner said.

“;We have no qualms over the decision to turn back,”; Wagner said, adding that pilots have a right to turn back anytime they feel uncomfortable with a situation during a flight.

But he added, “;We do feel that jets were an overreaction.”;

Two Oregon Air National Guard F-15 fighters escorted the plane back to Portland International Airport at about 1:15 p.m.

Wagner said after the two passengers were removed, the plane refueled and took off at about 2:40 p.m. It arrived last night on Maui.

John Clarno, 58, of Vancouver, Wash., said: “;I was only aware that something had happened when we were told that we had mechanical problems and were turning back. As we were landing, you could see some military jets landing as well, but I never saw the jets while we were in the air.”;

Oren Herson, 34, of Eugene, Ore., a contractor on Maui for business, said: “;We were probably one and a half hours out when we were told that we had encountered some mechanical problems. When we landed, I saw a bunch of emergency vehicles on the tarmac. Police boarded the plane after we landed, went to the back and escorted a guy with long gray hair and a leather jacket.”;

Jill Rianda, 38, a Haiku, Maui, resident returning from visiting family in Portland, said: “;I didn't see what actually happened, but I heard a couple talking behind me who did, and they said the man was nervous and jittery and couldn't stop talking. ... I was never scared, but when I saw all those emergency vehicles on the tarmac and the police board the plane, I figured that there must have been some sort of terroristic threat.”;

The North American Aerospace Defense Command ordered the jets to scramble, said the agency's spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Gary Ross.

NORAD, which is responsible for preventing air attacks against North America, is prepared to dog, divert or destroy airliners deemed a potential threat, according to its Web site.

Ross said the jets were sent up to monitor the plane and be ready for a worst-case scenario. He said the decision to send up the jets was based on information available at the time and because of the recent terrorism attempts.

Freelance reporter Fred Guzman contributed to this report.