Man who caused Delta flight diversion to OKC charged in federal court

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OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — A Georgia man has been charged in federal courtroom for erratic habits that prompted the Delta flight he was on to take emergency measures and divert to Will Rogers World Airport Friday.

Stephon Jamar Duncan, 34, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, was charged Monday with one rely of “interference with flight crew members and attendants” by Appearing United States Lawyer Robert J. Troester within the Western District of Oklahoma.

Duncan, who’s a Delta Airways flight attendant, was off-duty on the time on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

He made statements in flight that he thought he was “seated subsequent to a terrorist” and have become combative with the flight crew once they tried to cease him from making bulletins

delta
Stephon Jamar Duncan mugshot as recognized by the Oklahoma County Jail

If convicted, Duncan might obtain as much as 20 years in federal jail and as much as $250,000 positive, adopted by three years of supervised launch.

Three Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division officers arrested Duncan as soon as Delta Flight #1730 was on the bottom in Oklahoma Metropolis. The FBI then positioned a maintain on Duncan and joined OKCPD within the investigation which led to the costs in federal courtroom.

“Unusual and paranoid”

The OKCPD report by the arresting officers contained statements from a number of individuals, a few of whom had been each on-duty and off-duty Delta personnel.

Airways often ferry their very own flight attendants and cabin crew to airports the place they’re wanted to select up flight assignments. Duncan was on the flight for that goal together with a number of different Delta workers together with an off-duty Delta pilot.

On-duty and off-duty crew and another passengers ultimately restrained Duncan who was agitated and behaving in what on-duty flight attendants known as “unusual and paranoid habits.”

Based on the police report, crew members had heard him making statements about “being seated subsequent to a terrorist” and stashing private objects in an array of locations all through the aircraft.

A flight attendant retrieved these objects and turned them over to police who reported that they had been “tennis balls with writings on them, trash and meals.”

Alarming be aware

One of many on-duty flight attendants informed police that Duncan handed a be aware to them earlier that was written on a receipt.

The be aware learn: “”I AM ATL BASED ———–ALERT DELTA MANAGER —TERRORIST ON BOARD.
95835/CONTACT PILOTS.”

Violence

Finally Duncan’s habits turned extra excessive. On off-duty Delta pilot informed police that Duncan went to the aircraft’s intercom system and introduced that “the aircraft is being taken over” and can be “going underneath 10,000 ft.”

When the on-duty flight crew started to inform Duncan to cease and tried to get him away from the entrance of the aircraft he bagan bodily attacking the crew.

Based on statements made to police, Duncan “used his forearm” and shoved one flight attendant towards the wall.

The police report says that Duncan slammed an off-duty flight attendant towards a wall and began choking her.

A number of of the flight crew in addition to off-duty Delta personnel and a few passengers scuffled with Duncan as they tried to get him to depart the galley space of the aircraft close to the flight cabin.

Finally they had been in a position to subdue Duncan within the isle. When police entered the landed plan they stated Duncan had been “flex cuffed” and was in seat.

A trial date was not given by the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace.


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Final Up to date June 15, 2023, 4:20 PM by Brett Dickerson – Editor

The publish Man who prompted Delta flight diversion to OKC charged in federal courtroom appeared first on Oklahoma Metropolis Free Press.

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