MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alaska Airlines says an airliner bound for Seattle had to divert to Minneapolis after an unruly passenger tried to open a rear door in flight.

The Star Tribune reports the Boeing 737-900ER had left New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday morning when the pilot made an emergency landing at Minneapolis-Paul International Airport at 9:45 a.m.

Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Halley Knigge says the man "attempted to access one of the doors in the rear of the aircraft" and was "removed by law enforcement."

Knigge says it's impossible to open an aircraft door while the plane is pressurized and in flight.

Minneapolis airport spokeswoman Melissa Scovronski says the man was taken to Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.

The airliner continued to Seattle with 180 passengers aboard.

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