Three Transportation Security Administration officers were injured Tuesday in an «unprovoked» attack by a passenger at a security checkpoint at the Phoenix airport, the TSA said.
The attack occurred shortly before 6 a.m. at a checkpoint at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as the passenger was undergoing security screening, the agency said in a statement.
The TSA called the assault an “unprovoked and brazen physical attack on our employees” and said it was unacceptable.
Two of the three officers were taken to a hospital and later released, he said. The police arrested the passenger.
Phoenix police said a 19-year-old woman was arrested and booked without incident.
The case is still under investigation and detectives are working to find out what led to the assault, said Sgt. Brian Bower, a police spokesman.
Police said officers found three injured TSA officers who had been the victims of an assault.
Online jail records show the arrested woman was charged with three counts of assault, one count of criminal mischief and one count of disorderly conduct related to fighting.
The TSA said the checkpoint had to be closed and another 450 travelers had to go to other areas to be checked.