An Alaskan Airlines plane is forced to return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after taking off with a sleeping worker trapped in the cargo hold.

The Los Angeles-bound Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing at a Seattle-area airport on Monday afternoon (US time) after it took off with a worker trapped in a cargo area under the cabin, where he had fallen asleep, the US carrier said.

The pilot of Alaska Airlines flight 448 reported hearing banging from beneath the aircraft after take-off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, south of Seattle, the statement said.

When the aircraft returned after being in the air for 14 minutes, a ramp agent was found inside the pressurised and temperature-controlled front cargo hold, the statement said.

The pilot of Alaska Airlines Flight 448, bound for Los Angeles, reported hearing noises from beneath the aircraft within 14 minutes of taking off. Photo: Reuters

The pilot of Alaska Airlines Flight 448, bound for Los Angeles, reported hearing noises from beneath the aircraft within 14 minutes of taking off.  After exiting, the Menzies Aviation employee told authorities he had fallen asleep, Alaska Airlines said in a statement.