An Irish citizen is in custody in Bangor, Maine, after he allegedly said he was a terrorist and threatened to blow up an airliner on the way to the Emerald Island.
A detention hearing is set for Wednesday for Aiden Simon Mackle, 44, of Portadown, Northern Ireland.
Mackle is accused of telling a Delta Air Lines employee that he was a terrorist after drinking and becoming unruly on Flight 146 from Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was diverted to Bangor International Airport early Saturday.
Mackle faces federal charges of assault and interfering with a flight crew.
According to an FBI affidavit, he smoked a cigarette in a restroom on the plane, then became verbally abusive when he was confronted and told a flight attendant he was associated with Osama bin Laden and was going to hijack the plane.
He later responded to an off-duty pilot who told him that the flight might have to make an emergency landing by saying "OK, I'm a terrorist. Go ahead and land the plane," and punching an off-duty flight attendant, the affidavit said.
The plane with its 184 remaining passengers left Bangor after about two hours, said airport manager Rebecca Hupp.
Source:Xinhua/Agencies
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