(AP) -- DETROIT (AP) - A witness says the man who prompted fears of another terrorist episode today on board a Northwest Airlines flight "didn't want to stay in his seat."
Airport officials say the man had used the bathroom several times during the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit -- the same route that was the target of the Christmas Day attack -- and that he refused to come out as the plane was preparing to land.
While some passengers became nervous, others didn't even notice what was happening.
When the plane landed, the captain told passengers that no arrival gates were available. One woman on board says she knew that wasn't the case.
Soon, armed officers rushed on board the plane to remove the man. Passengers were evacuated, and luggage was lined up on the ground for inspection.
Authorities determined that the traveler who caused the problem was, in fact, ill -- and was no threat to anyone.
He was released after questioning.
EARLIER VERSION:
DETROIT (AP) - Apassenger onboard the same Northwest Airlines flight that was attacked on Christmas Day was taken into custody in Detroit on Sunday after becoming verbally disruptive upon landing, officials said.
A law enforcement official said the man was Nigerian and had locked himself in the airliner's bathroom. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
Delta Air Lines spokeswoman Susan Elliott said crew members requested that security remove the man from Flight 253 after he became disruptive. The remaining 255 passengers got off safely, she said.
Airport spokesman Scott Wintner said it was the same flight on which a man tried to set off an explosive on Christmas Day.
"The pilot requested emergency assistance upon arrival," he said.
Security and airline personnel are on edge since the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day, and the law enforcement official said that lesser incidents had been reported on other flights arriving in Detroit, but the incident with the Nigerian man had sparked the most concern.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
