ALERT The employee who slept in the cargo hold on @AlaskaAir flight #AS448 has been banned

A Menzies Aviation (Seattle) baggage handler who became trapped in the baggage hold in the belly of an Alaska Airlines jet after takeoff from Seattle after falling asleep this week has been banned from all future work at the airline, says spokesperson on Thursday.

The aircraft returned to Seattle while on route to Los Angeles, and the man passed a drug test and was released from hospital which he was taken to for evaluation, airline said.

The man, who's name has not been released, was not in danger as cargo holds was pressurised and temperature controlled.