Tensions boiled over between two pro football fans preparing to fly from Phoenix to Minneapolis on Saturday morning, causing a brief delay and requiring police to be called to the flight's gate just before departure.
American Airlines Flight 474 was due to take off from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport around 9:40 a.m. when it had to return to its gate after a disturbance between two passengers, said Katie Cody, an American Airlines spokeswoman.
Sgt. Vincent Lewis, a Phoenix Police Department spokesman, called the incident an "argument between rival football fans" but couldn't confirm to which team the passengers swore allegiance. The Vikings are scheduled to kick off their noon game at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and the Green Bay Packers will be playing in Washington, D.C., later Sunday afternoon.
Lewis said the rival passengers were "standing by peacefully" when officers arrived and that they were booked on separate flights leaving Phoenix. After a 25-minute delay, Flight 474 continued on to the Twin Cities, where it landed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 2:16 p.m. — or just under 24 hours before kickoff.
Stephen Montemayor
