The male passenger that caused a Delta plane en route from Paris to Atlanta to divert to Bangor, Maine Tuesday claimed to have a bomb in his luggage and a fake passport, USA Today reported Tuesday.
He was a former member of the U.S. Air Force, Fox News Channel reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
Federal officials identified the passenger as Derek Stansberry, 26, a Florida defense contractor who was traveling alone, NBC News reported. Authorities said they believe his passport is authentic.
A federal official said nothing suspicious was found in the passenger’s possessions.
The officials told Fox the unruly passenger served in the USAF as an intelligence specialist from June 2005 to June 2009. No further information was immediately available.
The Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) said in a statement that Delta flight 273 from Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport was diverted to Bangor International Airport “after Federal Air Marshals responded to a passenger causing a disturbance on board the aircraft.”
The flight landed at Bangor International Airport at approximately 3:30pm ET, and was met by TSA and law enforcement personnel. The TSA reported that the passenger was being questioned. Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol as well as other federal agencies which were not identified were also involved.
Flight 273 was carrying 235 passengers and 13 crew members. None were hurt and all were escorted off the plane.
The plane, which landed in Bangor at 3.30pm local time, was scheduled to continue its flight in the evening.