Unruly passenger who diverted flight jailed in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An unruly passenger who caused a US Airways flight to be diverted to Pittsburgh has been jailed on a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.

Steven Pectol, 40, of Mapleton, Utah, faces a hearing Friday before a federal magistrate in Pittsburgh to determine whether he’ll remain jailed until he can stand trial on a charge of interfering with a flight crew.

Authorities say Pectol was on a flight from Phoenix to New York Oct. 11 when he began throwing his belongings around, talking to himself, and heading toward the cabin door. Federal air marshals say several passengers subdued Pectol until a flight attendant could handcuff him and use a seat belt to restrain his legs.

Pectol was taken into custody when the flight was diverted to Pittsburgh.