Passenger’s Behavior Spurs Plane Evacuation

A Chicago-bound flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was evacuated after a passenger behaved suspiciously, officials said.

Passengers were boarding United Airlines Flight 627 before 6 p.m. Saturday when a Middle Eastern man abruptly got off the plane, airport and Transportation Security Administration officials said.

The Airbus A320 and the airport concourse were evacuated and all passengers were rescreened, said Amy Von Walter, a TSA spokeswoman.

The passenger was turned over to the FBI, who questioned and released him after 10 p.m., said spokeswoman Debbie Weierman. The man had decided to change his flight plans for personal reasons, Weierman said.