64-year-old denies interfering with flight crew

Airline Industry Information, May 24, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A 64-year-old man accused of interfering with a flight crew during an Asiana Airlines flight from Incho, South Korea to Los Angeles in November 2001 has denied the accusation.

According to prosecutors, the man threatened to open an emergency exit door, and told the flight crew he would storm the cockpit if he did not get his way. He also allegedly said "people might die" and made a motion of an explosion with his hands.

Testifying in court yesterday (23 May), the man claimed that he did not make any threat to blow up the aircraft and only requested another aisle seat instead of the one near the aircraft lavatory.

The man claims he stayed in his seat during the flight but was approached by the pilot who ordered the flight crew to handcuff the man. Subsequently, the man spent the reminding nine hours of the flight handcuffed in the back of the aircraft.

The man has been charged with one count of interfering with a flight crew, and if found guilty he will face up to 20 years imprisonment, reported The Associated Press.

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