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Flight attendant charged with starting fire on plane

Posted at 4:28 PM, Mar 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-02 16:28:39-05

DETROIT, Mich. – An American Airlines flight attendant has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire in the lavatory of a plane landing in Detroit.

The FBI made the arrest Tuesday.  The flight incident happened on a flight from Dallas, Texas to Detroit on February 1st.

The FBI says that Johnathan Tafoya-Montano reported to the captain a fire had broken out in a rear lavatory while the plane was on approach to land at Detroit Metro Airport.  The captain called the control tower and the plane was granted emergency status to land.  The plane landed without incident and no one was injured.

Investigators determined that Tafoya-Montano set the fire and the FBI says that he has admitted to doing so.  He has been charged with Destruction of Aircraft or Aircraft Facilities and making False Statements or Entries.

Tafoya-Montano is free on bond, but is not allowed to fly without permission.