Passenger charged in Denver with disrupting flight crew before plane diverted
By APWednesday, January 13, 2010
Passenger charged in Denver with disrupting crew
DENVER — An AirTran Airways passenger accused of becoming unruly when he was refused more alcohol has been charged with interfering with a flight crew.
Authorities say Muhammad Abu Tahir of Glen Allen, Va., became disruptive on a flight Jan. 8 from Atlanta to San Francisco. Two military jets were sent to tail the plane, whose captain decided to divert to Colorado Springs.
Muhammad Abu Tahir had an interpreter at his side Wednesday in federal court. Preliminary and bond hearings were scheduled for Friday.
The plane was one of two commercial flights diverted that day, coming amid heightened concern over airline security after a Nigerian man allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines plane Christmas Day.
