Clay Aiken involved in mid-flight dispute

BY MATT ELLIOTT World Scene Writer
Sunday, July 08, 2007
7/08/07 at 2:18 AM

Former "American Idol" singer Clay Aiken was apparently involved in a disturbance with another passenger Saturday while on an airplane headed to Tulsa International Airport.

The dispute on a Continental Airlines flight occurred between a woman and a man, who FBI Special Agent Gary Johnson confirmed was a former "American Idol" contestant.

Aiken, a runner-up on the TV talent show in 2003, was headed to Tulsa for a Saturday performance at the Brady Theater. His management could not be reached Saturday afternoon for comment.

Concert-goers who attended Aiken's show at the Brady said Aiken joked on-stage about being beaten up by a girl earlier.

Johnson said he was told the dispute was over the male passenger's foot resting on another passenger's armrest. He said the disturbance was a minor one.

There was an allegation that the woman gave the male passenger a "minor shove" during the argument, Johnson said.

"At that point the flight crew was able to resolve the situation," he said.

The disturbance occurred Saturday morning, said Tulsa Airport Authority spokeswoman Alexis Higgins.

Higgins said passengers were held until FBI agents arrived to interview them.

No injuries were reported and no arrests were made. The disturbance did not interfere with the flight of the aircraft, Johnson said.

Agents forwarded the results of their investigation to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which declined to file charges, he said.

Matt Elliott 581-8366
matt.elliott@tulsaworld.com

World staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this story.

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