Authorities are investigating how pepper spray infiltrated the cabin of a jetliner that was forced to return to Sacramento International Airport shortly after takeoff.
Southwest Airlines pilots reported an odor in the cockpit about 20 minutes into a Sunday flight to Burbank.
Incident Commander Niko King with the Sacramento Fire Department says investigators detected high levels of pepper spray toward the back of the plane's cabin.
The Transportation Security Administration had initially dismissed reports of pepper spray onboard.
It's not clear how the pepper spray got into the cabin. Pepper spray is not allowed in carryon baggage.
Passengers were screened again and put on another flight.
Copyright The Associated Press