Southwest Flight Diverted Over 'Misunderstanding' About Passenger's Ramadan Prayer Timer

The incident highlights how cultural or religious practices can escalate into security responses during air travel.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was diverted to Atlanta on Friday night after a disturbance involving a passenger who had set a timer on his phone to pray during Ramadan. The airline later said the diversion was an 'abundance of caution' due to a 'misunderstanding' of the passenger's behavior.

Why it matters

The diversion highlights how misunderstandings involving cultural or religious practices can escalate into significant security responses during air travel, disrupting flights and affecting passengers.

The details

The incident occurred on Southwest Airlines flight 2094 that was en route to Fort Lauderdale. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the flight landed safely in Atlanta after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The FBI and Atlanta police investigated the incident and determined there was no credible threat, and no charges will be filed.

  • The flight departed Nashville International Airport on Friday, March 6.
  • The flight landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 9 p.m. local time on Friday, March 6.

The players

Southwest Airlines

An American airline that operates flights across the United States.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Atlanta

The federal law enforcement agency that investigated the incident on the Southwest flight.

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What they’re saying

“The Southwest Airlines Crew of Flight 2094 on Friday made the decision to divert to Atlanta out of an abundance of caution due to what turned out to be a misunderstanding of a customer's behavior.”

— Southwest Airlines (NBC6)

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the misunderstanding and the significant delay. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers.”

— Southwest Airlines (NBC6)

What’s next

The FBI and Atlanta police have concluded their investigation, determining there was no credible threat, and no charges will be filed.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater cultural awareness and sensitivity among airlines and security personnel to avoid escalating misunderstandings involving religious or cultural practices during air travel, which can disrupt flights and negatively impact passengers.