Prosecutors: drunk passenger yelled "I will beat you all down and kill you". Varoujan Khodjamirian accused of forcing emergency landing in Denver

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DENVER -- An American Airlines passenger accused of forcing an emergency landing in Denver appeared in federal court Friday to be advised of the charges against him.

Varoujan Khodjamirian faces charges of interfering with flight crew members and attendants, which carries a possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Khodjamirian was taken into custody at Denver International Airport late Friday after, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office, he became unruly, struck a flight attendant and then yelled various threats on a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles.

“Approximately one and a half hours into the flight, after consuming several alcoholic drinks, Khodjamirian became loud and disruptive,” US Attorney John Walsh said. “Following passenger complaints, the flight attendants reseated the two passengers sitting next to Khodjamirian. Shortly thereafter, the defendant began kicking the seats in front of him. “

Attempts by the flight attendants to calm him down were unsuccessful, so they moved him to the last row of seats, Walsh said.

“He continued to be loud, struck one of the flight attendants in the face, and began yelling threats, including “I kill you children, I kill your mother. I will beat you all down and kill you.”

The flight attendant wasn’t injured in the assault, According to American Airline spokesman Jim Faulkner.

At that point, crew members restrained Khodjamirian with flexible cuffs and two flight attendants sat next to him as the aircraft was diverted to Denver.

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Read the full criminal complaint.