Berkeley Man's Demands For Nuts & Crackers Diverts International Flight, Causes Travel Nightmare For Fellow Passengers
BERKELEY (CBS/AP) — Police say a Berkeley man's demands for snacks forced a Chicago-bound United Airlines flight to divert to Northern Ireland, causing many passengers to stay overnight in an airport.
The flight from Rome made an unscheduled landing in Belfast on Saturday after Jeremiah Mathis Thede, a 42-year-old with dual Italian and American nationality, was charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft, disruptive behavior and common assault. The Chronicle reported that Thede is a resident of Berkeley.
Police told Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday that the trouble began soon after takeoff when Thede demanded "nuts or crackers."
He was given some nuts but later asked for more, and the situation escalated until the pilot became concerned about Thede's erratic behavior.
Thede's lawyer said his client denies wrongdoing.
Many of the 282 passengers spent the night at Belfast airport before flying on to Chicago on Sunday.
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