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JFK Flight Diverted To N.M. After Smoke Smell In Cabin

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (CBS 2/AP) — A man was released from custody after allegedly causing a cross country flight to be diverted to New Mexico after taking off from JFK.

Transportation Security Administration officials say an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Wednesday in Albuquerque while en route to Los Angeles after passengers and crew members smelled smoke in the cabin. "Some people said that he walked up and down the aisle and smelled like smoke," said David Ledesma. "So maybe he was trying to smoke a cigarette and he lit a match in the bathroom.

TSA and FBI agents searched the plane and declared it safe.

The passengers were allowed to re-board and continue on to Los Angeles.

FBI Special Agent Darrin Jones says the man was not arrested and has been released. Jones says it's unclear if charges will be filed. The man's name was not released.

(TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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