THE 19-YR.-OLD COMPASS AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANT who was arrested last month (Firegeezer report HERE) for setting a fire in his plane while aloft, pleaded not guilty in federal court Thursday in Fargo.

Compass Airlines stock photo

The airplane was en route from Minneapolis to Regina, Saskatchewan, and carrying 72 passengers when Eder Rojas went into the rear lavatory and set the paper towels in a wall dispenser on fire.  The plane had to make an emergency landing in Fargo, North Dakota.  Rojas was arrested a week later after questioning and has been held without bail.

After Thursday’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Klein released Rojas to the custody of his father, Juan Rojas, of Chicago. Prosecutors had asked Klein to keep Rojas in jail.

During the hearing, prosecuters disclosed that Rojas was also on a plane five weeks earlier that had a similar fire in the bathroom and he helped put that fire out, too.  That case is still under investigation, however.

Trial is scheduled for July 21. Rojas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He may be ordered to pay restitution for damage to the plane.

The Associated Press has the latest report HERE.
Compass Airlines WEBSITE.

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