John Huggins was returning to Denver after a Washington, D.C., business trip when United Flight 663 landed at Denver International Airport and turned off the runway.
Huggins, a former economic development chief for the city and county of Denver, was sitting in coach toward the front of the plane but noticed nothing amiss — until the plane stopped far from the terminal and passengers were told to remain in their seats.
It was then that authorities removed a man from a seat in first class several rows ahead of Huggins.
“After a while it became obvious something abnormal was happening,” he said.
Once the plane landed, Huggins said, passengers were told to remain in their seats and not use their cellphones.
The pilot walked the aisle and explained there was a security issue but did not provide details.
“The cabin crew were very professional,” Huggins said from a fire station at DIA, where he was taken by bus with other passengers.
Police asked passengers who they were and what their purpose of travel was.
Huggins said passengers were told to leave their carry-on bags on the plane before they were taken in five or six buses to the fire station. Firefighters provided them with popcorn.
