By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT — A U.S. Airways flight out of LaGuardia Airport was diverted to Philadelphia International Airport Thursday morning due to what the Transportation Security Administration is calling a "disruptive passenger."
A 17-year-old Orthodox Jewish man was reportedly wrapping tefillin, also known as phylacteries, on his body for ritual prayer at roughly 8:15 a.m. aboard Flight 3079 en route to Louisville.
In what turned out to be a cultural misunderstanding, a flight attendant on board was alarmed to see the passenger wrapping the black boxes and leather straps to his body and alerted the pilot, according to local police.
The pilot contacted authorities at 8:30 a.m. and the plane landed without incident at Philadelphia International airport at approximately 8:50 a.m., the TSA said.
The Anti-Defamation League, a national organization that works to fight anti-Semitism, responded to Thursday morning's situation.
"In today's atmosphere of heightened security concern, it is understandable that passgeners might be alarmed upon noticing fellow travelers bearing unfamiliar or seemingly strange objects," ADL representatives said.
"Airline personnel should be trained to become more knowledgeable about ritual items and religious customs so they may appropriately respond if presented with similar situations."
