
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 6, 1991                   TAG: 9103061157
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS                                LENGTH: Short

USAIR FLIGHT LANDS EARLY FOR PASSENGER'S ARREST

A USAir flight made an unscheduled stop after a passenger allegedly became abusive when he wasn't allowed to smoke and the crew couldn't find enough cards for him to play with, officials said.

Sam Tirone, 46, of Las Vegas, appeared in federal court before Magistrate John Paul Godich on Tuesday charged with assaulting and intimidating crew members on USAir Flight 695 from Philadelphia to Las Vegas.

FBI agent Jack Stohlman said Tirone grabbed at a male attendant when told there were no playing cards.

First Officer Mark Horvath left the cockpit to explain the no-smoking policy and the rule against touching flight attendants, the agent said. The first officer said that if Tirone did not behave, the plane would land short of its destination.

"The passenger responded, `OK, then let's land short,' " Stohlman said.

Passengers applauded as an FBI agent boarded the plane in Indianapolis and arrested Tirone.

- Associated Press

by CNB