Magistrate judge in Maine wants competency exam for man accused in flight diversion
By APFriday, April 30, 2010
Maine judge orders mental exam in flight diversion
BANGOR, Maine — A federal magistrate judge has ordered a competency examination for a Florida man accused of causing a trans-Atlantic flight to be diverted to Maine.
Magistrate Margaret Kravchuk on Friday granted a defense request for the examination. In doing so, she also delayed a detention hearing scheduled for Monday for 26-year-old Derek Stansberry.
The FBI says Delta Air Lines Flight 273 from Paris to Atlanta was forced to land in Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday because Stansberry claimed he had a false passport and dynamite. It turns out that there were no explosives, and Stansberry’s passport was valid.
Stansberry is charged with false information and threats, and interfering with a flight crew. The Air Force veteran is from Riverview, Fla.
