WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Aviation authorities said passengers on a US Airways plane preparing to depart from Washington alerted the pilot to a baggage handler trapped in the cargo hold.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the handler, who was also assigned to operate the tug slated to push the plane away from the gate Monday at Reagan National Airport, became stuck in the forward cargo hold when another worker apparently shut the compartment door, The New York Times reported Wednesday.


Passengers alerted a flight attendant to sounds coming from beneath the floor and the co-pilot informed baggage handlers, who were searching for the missing tug driver, of the "yelling and pounding" coming from the cargo hold, the FAA said.

The worker was unharmed and was able to operate the tug, allowing the plane to leave a few minutes ahead of schedule for Hartford, Conn.