US flight attendant charged with starting fire on plane

Houston: An American Airlines flight attendant has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with starting a fire on board a flight.

Johnathan Tafoya-Montano allegedly started a fire on an American Airlines flight that was travelling from Dallas, Texas to Detroit on February 1, 2016.

During the flight, Tafoya-Montano reported a fire in a rear lavatory on the aircraft and extinguished the flames.

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 aircraft landed without incident and all passengers and flight crew safely disembarked.

David P Gelios, special agent in charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation Detroit Division, said an investigation found that Tafoya-Montano had set the fire himself.

Tafoya-Montano also admitted starting the fire, the FBI said in a press release.

He has been charged with destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities and false statements or entries generally.

He was arrested on Tuesday. He was released on bond with conditions on Wednesday. One of the conditions included a prohibition from flying without permission of the court, the FBI release said.

However, the FBI did not say why Tafoya-Montano started the fire on board the plane.