A flight bound for Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing after it took off with a worker trapped in the cargo area of the plane.

Shortly after takeoff on Monday afternoon, the pilot of the Alaska Airlines plane heard banging from underneath the aircraft and made an emergency landing in Seattle.

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Local TV station KIRO TV said passengers on the flight also heard screaming coming form underneath the cabin.

The flight was in the air for only 14 minutes, and after returning to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the ramp agent was found inside the pressurised and temperature controlled cargo hold.

According to a statement from the airline, the Menzies Aviation employee walked off the aircraft and admitted to authorities that he had fallen asleep.

“The agent was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. We are actively investigating this matter,” Alaska Airlines said.

#alaska flight I’m on just returned to seatac. Someone was stuck in cargo hold. How does that happen?? pic.twitter.com/Vw2wZBhB7m

— Marty Taylor Collins (@seattlegirl) April 13, 2015

Alaska flight returns to Sea-Tac after passengers heard screaming- worker stuck in cargo hold! @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/P7dUoDhJdg

— Alison Grande (@AlisonKIRO7) April 13, 2015