A flight attendant who heroically claimed to have saved a plane from a fire in a bathroom has been arrested accused of starting the blaze.
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No one was injured in the fire and the plane landed safely without incident. After the fire was reported to the captain, the captain notified the control tower, and the aircraft, already on approach to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, was granted emergency status. The FBI said Tafoya-Montano admitted to setting the fire Tuesday, a month after being interviewed by federal authorities.
He pretended that he had discovered the fire and told the other flight attendants about it.
The FBI said an investigation revealed that Tafoya-Montano started the fire. “… Once the fire gained intensity, he immediately put the fire out”.
The judge ordered Tafoya-Montano to remain seated for the entire journey and a corporate security officer accompanied him to make sure he adhered to the order.
According to court documents, Johnathan had joined American Airlines only one and a half year ago and had worked for a doctor’s office in New Mexico.
He is charged with “destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities”, the US code which penalizes anyone who “sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce”.
Tafoya-Montano is free on bond, but is not allowed to fly without permission.
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His court-appointed attorney was not available for comment. In 2014, he was arrested once for DUI and was convicted.
