Couple booted off Seattle flight for trying to join 'mile high club'

LAS VEGAS -- A plane headed for Las Vegas from Seattle was diverted to Portland on Thursday afternoon after at least one passenger said a couple tried to join the "mile high club."

US Airways Flight 1473 left Seattle at 2:58 p.m., but a pair of unruly passengers caused it to be diverted and head for Portland International Airport.

The flight landed in Portland at 5 p.m. and a spokeswoman for US Airways said two people were escorted off the plane after a dispute with flight attendants.

A passenger said the couple was fooling around and decided to go into the bathroom.

"The people in the aisle, across the aisle from us were messing around in their seat and then they decided to go to the bathroom and fool around," said passenger Jessica Smith. "And then they threatened the flight attendant."

US Airways avoided confirming that the couple was fooling around, but did say they were arguing with the crew.

Smith said at first, she was mad their flight was going to be diverted. "I was a little irked but I think everybody was. When, well especially when we realized what it was for," she said.

An airport spokesperson said the passengers were neither cited nor arrested, but they were left in Portland. The plane continued on to Las Vegas.