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UPDATE 3-12-12: Reuters quotes an airport spokesman who said police and FBI agents took the flight attendant for a psychiatric evaluation; there are no plans to charge the woman with any crime.

EARLIER: A flight attendant was forcibly removed from an American Airlines plane this morning – reportedly, kicking and screaming –  not long after the aircraft was scheduled to take off from the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport. See the official American Airlines statement on the incident, below.

Flight Attendant Yelled about ‘Crash’

The strange incident began as flight 2332 was taxiing from the gate in preparation for its flight to Chicago. According to the Dallas Observer, passengers said a female flight attendant got on the PA system and told them the plane was heading back to the gate. Other flight attendants then began circulating through the cabin saying, no, that the plane was about to take off. The situation then escalated as the flight attendant on the PA system began ranting about plane crashes which prompted some of the passengers to start yelling and ask what was going on.

Now a story on Passengers Behaving Badly

Passengers, Flight Attendants Restrain Woman

Ultimately, passengers and fellow flight attendants had to restrain the screaming woman. Once the aircraft returned to the gate at DFW, the flight attendant was removed – and the entire cabin crew was reportedly replaced with new personnel. The plane eventually took off after a delay of an hour and 20 minutes.

American Airlines Statement on Flight Attendant Incident

American Airlines responded quickly to FareCompare’s request for further information with the following statement:

“This morning Flight 2332 had left the gate at DFW bound for Chicago, when an incident occurred involving some of the cabin crew.  The aircraft returned to the gate, where it was met by Department of Public Safety officers.  Two flight attendants were taken to local hospitals for treatment. We continue to investigate the details and circumstances and will have no further comment at this time.

We will ensure that the affected flight attendants receive proper care, and we commend our other crew members for their assistance in quickly getting the aircraft back to the gate so that customers could be re-accommodated. Our customers were not in danger at any time.

The cabin crew was replaced. The flight departed for Chicago at 9:46 a.m., and is scheduled to land around noon.  We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers and we appreciate their patience and understanding.” –American Airlines, 3-9-12

Above photo from Dallas Observer.