An air marshal who was on the flight overheard some people talking about being smuggled into the US. Morrisville, NC -- Nearly a dozen passengers were escorted off a Southwest airlines flight Tuesday night and taken into custody, suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Eleven people were taken off Southwest flight 2340 from Chicago at RDU International at 6:40pm Tuesday.
Authorities said an air marshal who was on the flight overheard some people talking about being smuggled into the US The air marshal then contacted INS and customs officials who met the plane.
The 11 Mexican nationals were taken to the Johnston County jail where they were held overnight and are still being interviewed.
Authorities said they believe each person spent about $1,000 to get on the flight and that one of the 11 planned the incident.
The other 136 passengers on board were delayed by 15 to 20 minutes after the flight landed. They reportedly cheered when authorities removed the suspected illegal immigrants.