site.btaAir France Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Sofia because of Rowdy Passenger

March 6 (BTA) - An Air France flight overflying Bulgaria
en route from Ghana via Paris to New Delhi had to make an
emergency landing at Sofia Airport around 5 p.m. on Friday
because of a rowdy passenger on board.

Sofia City Prosecutor Iliana Kirilova told a news briefing on
Saturday that the passenger, a national of India, has been
detained for 72 hours.

Commissioner Teodor Cheshmedjiev, Chief of the Border Police
Department at Sofia Airport, said that the request for the
emergency landing was received at 4:10 p.m. on Friday. After the
 troublemaker's detention, the flight proceeded to its
destination.

The Indian national has been charged with endangering the safety
 of an aircraft while airborne, said Ivailo Angelov of the
National Investigation Service. On conviction, he faces 5 to 10
years' imprisonment, the investigating magistrate specified.

The detainee's motives are being clarified. He rampaged right
from the beginning of the flight but did not resist arrest at
Sofia Airport. "He realizes what he has done but does not behave
 quite adequately," Angelov pointed out.

The detainee has been provided with a court-appointed defence
lawyer and an interpreter. The Embassy of India in Sofia has
been informed of the incident. RY/LG

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