Fighter jets intercepted a New York-bound airliner this afternoon, high above Pennsylvania, after a passenger freaked out over another flyer’s frequent bathroom trips, sources said.
The eerie 9/11 scare was reported by American Airlines crew 100 miles northwest of JFK, forcing F-16 fighters to scramble after the Boeing 767-200 jet.
Flight 34 went wheels up from Los Angeles International Airport at 8:12 a.m. West Coast time and — with emergency escort — touched down at JFK at 4:15 p.m., 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Port Authority cops boarded the flight before any passengers were allowed off at Gate 44 of Terminal 8.
The uniformed officers brought witnesses and alleged bathroom users to the back of the plane for interviews.
The high-flying drama unfolded after at least one passenger spotted one or more fellow customers hitting the head an unusually high number of times, prompting the red flag, airport sources told The Post.
The Associated Press quoted unnamed officials who said three people were actually locked inside the bathroom, and remained there even as the flight landed.
An American Airlines rep confirmed there was a mid-air scare, but insisted no one was in any real danger.
“A concern was raised,’’ the AA spokesman said. “I can’t get into security issues but it [the toilet complaint] was not from a crew member.”
Incognito air marshals were on board, but never had to reveal their identity, the AA rep added.
Airline passengers were understandably tense, and on high alert, today, the 10-year anniversary of hijackers taking over four transcontinental flights.
Only one of the four suicide missions failed to hit their intended targets, as brave passengers aboard United Flight 93 revolted against the terrorist s and brought the Newark-to-San Francisco plane down near Shanksville, Pa.