A man whose behavior is alleged to have caused a United Airlines flight traveling from Rome to Chicago to be diverted to Belfast on Saturday appeared in court Monday on charges of endangering the safety of a plane, being disorderly, and assaulting one of the cabin crew.
According to William Robinson, police constable in charge of the U.K. case, Jeremiah Mathias Thede, an American citizen with a registered address in Berkeley, Calif., is alleged to have stood up during the flight’s ascent, while the seatbelt sign was still on and refused to sit down until he was served nuts and crackers. Ten minutes later, he allegedly again asked for the snacks and became abusive when he was refused, the BBC reports.
Testimonies in court contend that Thede was belligerent with the crew, lifted bags in and out of overhead lockers, and blocked aisles until both passengers and crew felt unsafe. The flight was therefore diverted before it crossed into open water.
Thede said he was the victim of a conspiracy and was being “picked on,” Robinson told the BBC.
The United Airlines flight landed safely in Belfast, dumping more than 13,000 gallons of fuel. The airline estimates the incident could cost as much as $500,000 in compensation.
Meet the Solar-Powered Plane That Will Fly Around the World
The Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane, flies over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi during preparations for next month's round-the-world flight on Feb. 26, 2015. Solar Impulse/Revillard/Rezo.ch/ReutersSolar Impulse 2 flies over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on Feb. 26, 2015 ahead of a planned round-the-world tour to promote alternative energy.Solar Impulse/AFP/Getty ImagesSolar Impulse 2, the second solar powered aircraft created by Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will make the first round-the-world solar flight in 2015. On June 2, 2014, test pilot Markus Scherberg took the aircraft, which has "...the wingspan of a jumbo jet and the weight of a car" on its inaugural flight.Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse 2/APGerman test pilot Markus Scherdel prepares for take-off in the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft on its maiden flight at its base in Payerne June 2, 2014.Denis Balibouse—ReutersSolar Impulse 2 takes off during its maiden flight from Payerne on June 2, 2014. Laurent Gillieron—ReutersGerman test pilot Markus Scherdel steers Solar Impulse 2 on its maiden flight from its base in Payerne on June 2, 2014.Denis Balibouse—ReutersGerman test pilot Markus Scherdel steers Solar Impulse 2 on its maiden flight from its base in Payerne on June 2, 2014.Laurent Gillieron—EPAFrom left: Solar Impulse co-founder Bertrand Piccard congratulates German test pilot Markus Scherdel after Solar Impulse 2's maiden flight from Payerne on June 2, 2014.Fabrice Coffrini—AFP/Getty ImagesSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype, which preceded Solar Impulse 2, is reassembled on April 5, 2013 after arriving from Switzerland. The aircraft flew across America in stages over May to July from San Francisco to Washington D.C. and New York City.Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane. Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisSeven years of intensive work, calculations and tests by a team of 70 people and 80 partners contributed to producing the carbon fiber airplane. Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisBy day the solar cells recharge the 400kg lithium batteries allowing the plane to fly at night. Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisSwiss pilot Bertrand Piccard testing equipment of Solar Impulse HB-SIA on April 1, 2013 in Moffett, Calif.Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is getting prepared for its 6th test flight from Moffett Airfield at the Ames Research Center of NASA after being reassembled, April 23, 2013, in Mountain View, Calif.Niels Ackermann—Rezo/Solar Impulse/PolarisComponents of the revolutionary carbon fiber aircraft as it is reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane in Mountain View, Calif.Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is being reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane in Mountain View, Calif.Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is being reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane in Mountain View, Calif.Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisThe 12,000 solar cells integrated into the wing supply four electric motors with renewable energy and charge the 400kg lithium polymer batteries during the day, enabling the aircraft to fly at night. Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is being reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane in Mountain View, Calif.Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/PolarisThe pilot Bertrand Piccard, initiator and President of the Solar Impulse project, will be flying over the San Francisco Bay area and pass over the Golden Gate Bridge.Niels Ackermann—Rezo/Solar Impulse/PolarisThe Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype makes its 3rd test flight from Moffett Field at the Ames Research Center of NASA after being reassembled. Niels Ackermann—Rezo/Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype makes its 6th test flight from Moffett Airfield at the Ames Research Center of NASA after being reassembled. Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype flies over the San Francisco Bay, April 23, 2013.Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse' s HB-SIA prototype soars above the clouds over the San Francisco Bay, April 23, 2013.Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse' s HB-SIA prototype flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, April 23, 2013.Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/PolarisSolar Impulse takes off on its final leg of its flight across the USA from Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., July 6, 2013.Niels Ackermann—Solar Impulse/EPASolar Impulse, with Andre Borschberg onboard, approaches JFK airport on late July 6, 2013 in New York. The experimental Solar Impulse plane, powered by the sun, completed a transcontinental trip across the United States late Saturday, touching down in New York despite a rip in the fabric of one wing. Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/AFP/Getty ImagesSolar Impulse lands at Kennedy airport. The solar-powered airplane of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg completed the final leg of the Across America campaign, flying from Dulles to New York's Kennedy airport. Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/PolarisA tear in the wing fabric of the Solar Impulse airplane following landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, July 6, 2013.Niels Ackermann—Solar Impulse/EPAFrom left: Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg after Solar Impulse lands at JFK airport in New York on July 6, 2013. The airplane touched down in New York City late on Saturday, completing the final leg of an epic journey across the United States that began over two months ago.Eric Thayer—Reuters
