A charge of interference with a flight crew is likely to be filed Monday against Muhammed Abu Tahir, whose allegedly disruptive behavior led to an Atlanta to San Francisco airline flight being diverted to Colorado Springs, the U.S.attorney’s office in Denver said Saturday.
Spokesman Jeff Dorschner said that, if convicted, Tahir could face up to 20 years in prison.
A law enforcement source told The Denver Post that Tahir, who turns 47 today, is a Pakistani national who has been in the United States for “quite some time” — since at least 2002.
The source said investigators are attempting to determine Tahir’s profession.
According to El Paso County Jail booking information, Tahir is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 172 pounds. He lives in Glen Allen, Va., a suburb of Richmond, Va.
Tahir began his trip Friday in Richmond, and changed planes in Atlanta, boarding AirTran Airways Flight 39.
According to AirTran, Tahir, who was allegedly intoxicated, became disruptive and irate with a flight attendant.
Tahir refused to follow flight crew instructions to take his seat and then proceeded to lock himself in the aircraft lavatory, according to the airline. The pilot diverted to Colorado Springs and requested that local law enforcement meet the plane.
Two F-16 fighter jets under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command were scrambled after the AirTran pilot reported the unruly passenger.
NORAD said the two fighters arrived overhead at the Colorado Springs Airport as the AirTran pilot landed the Boeing 737 about noon.
The jetliner had 132 passengers and crew on board.
After a search and passenger interviews, the plane left Colorado Springs at 3:45 p.m. Friday and arrived in San Francisco without further incident.
Kathy Wright, spokeswoman for the FBI in Denver, said agents are investigating allegations that Tahir grabbed a flight attendant and that he also removed his shoes during the incident.
Friday was the second time jets were scrambled last week because of disruptive passengers.
On Wednesday, a Maui-bound Hawaiian Airlines flight from Portland, Ore., was turned around and escorted by two F-15 fighters because of an uncooperative passenger.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
