Southwest Airlines released a statement saying Flight 3590 returned to Austin after takeoff due to "an altercation between two passengers." Southwest said local law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Police said one person was arrested. A passenger on the flight tweeted that police escorted two people off the plane.
Southwest said the flight then departed for Chicago again and was expected to arrive three and a half hours behind schedule.
No details about the nature of the altercation, the cause of it, or any details about any persons involved have been released.