Plane makes emergency landing after worker trapped in cargo

SEATTLE — A Los Angeles-bound Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing at a Seattle-area airport on Monday afternoon after it took off with a worker trapped in a cargo area under the cabin, the U.S. carrier said.

The pilot of Alaska Airlines flight 448 reported hearing banging from beneath the aircraft after takeoff from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, south of Seattle, the statement said.

When the aircraft returned after being in the air for 14 minutes, a ramp agent was found inside the pressurized and temperature-controlled front cargo hold, the statement said.

“The ramp agent appeared OK, and was transported to the hospital as a precaution,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement on its website. “We are actively investigating the matter.”