Los Angeles, Jun 13 (IANS): A Delta flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Georgia, was forced to divert its route and make an emergency landing after an unruly passenger made threats and attacked flight attendants, the airline said.

"Thanks to the crew and passengers of Delta Flight 1730 (LAX to ATL) who assisted in detaining an unruly passenger as the flight diverted to Oklahoma City (OKC)," Delta said in a statement on Saturday.

"The aircraft landed without incident and the passenger was removed by law enforcement."

According to US media reports, the unruly passenger was identified as an off-duty flight attendant, reports Xinhua news agency.

The man "made terrorist threats and assaulted two flight attendants near the front of the plane", reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper citing Oklahoma City police.

Crew members asked passengers for help and several people detained the man with the help of an off-duty pilot, reported the newspaper, adding that police later said that the man had exhibited signs of mental health issues.

It was the third time this month that a Delta flight out of Los Angeles had to divert due to an unruly passenger's behaviour.

A Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York was reportedly diverted to Detroit on Thursday after an unruly passenger became a threat.

Earlier this month, an unruly passenger was arrested after he had allegedly tried to breach the cockpit on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee, forcing the plane to divert to Albuquerque, New Mexico.