FARGO, N.D. — A former flight attendant who fled the country nearly three years ago after he was accused of setting fire to an airplane bathroom is back in North Dakota.
Eder Rojas is charged in federal court with knowingly and willfully setting fire to an aircraft. Prosecutors say the May 2008 flight from Minneapolis to Regina, Saskatchewan, was forced to make an emergency landing in Fargo.
Rojas allegedly walked away in the middle of a night from a Fargo halfway house in September 2008. He was arrested in Mexico in March.
Federal authorities say Rojas was returned to Fargo Wednesday. He's scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon.
Prosecutors had wanted Rojas to remain in jail in 2008, calling him a flight risk and danger to the community. A magistrate judge refused.
Source: http://www.therepublic.com
MEXICO CITY — Mexican prosecutors say they have extradited a U.S. flight attendant charged with setting fire to an airplane bathroom.
Eder Rojas was arrested by federal police and handed over to U.S. Marshals after a brief detention in Mexico City. His extradition was announced Thursday.
Rojas was charged in U.S. federal court with setting a fire aboard a Compass Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Saskatchewan in 2008. No injuries were reported and the flight landed safely.
Authorities said the then-19-year-old was upset with his employer.
Prosecutors did not say how long Rojas had been in Mexico. He faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and possible $250,000 fine before failing to show for a federal court appearance three years ago.
Source: http://moneywatch.bnet.com
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