Brit charged over plane incident

A man from Scotland has appeared in a US court charged with interfering with a flight crew. John Murray, 50-years-old and from Glasgow, was on a nonstop flight from Philadelphia to London that had to be diverted after cabin crew did not like the way he was behaving. Mr Murray had his arm in a sling after an apparent motorbike accident and refused to move it when cabin crew tried to wheel the trolley past him. He had told them that a doctor had said he must keep outstretched as much as he can to help with the healing process.

The crew of the US Airways jet had repeatedly asked him to move his arm but he had refused and the discussion reportedly became quite heated. The captain of the plane decided to divert the plane to Logan International Airport in Boston and informed ground staff of the situation. After landing Mr Murray was taken into custody by the local police force at around 23:00 local time and put in a holding cell for the night. The next day the accused was taken to court where he was asked to put in a plea on the charges against him. Mr Murray pleaded not-guilty and was released on a $300 bail.

The prosecution has said in court documents that in no way was he violent toward cabin crew or other passengers and alcohol was not a factor in the incident. Mr Murray’s court appointed lawyer said he had recently survived a motorbike accident where he lost his thumb and finger and his arm is still in a cast. The cast is what led to the argument between flight crew and the defendant.