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A Texas man faces a crime charge after hijacking a southwestern flight because he did not want to stop "playing games" with the woman sitting next to him.
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A southwestern flight made an emergency landing Tuesday after a passenger caused a scene by making a bloody speech and playing an undesirable "footsie" game with her teammate.

Justin Riley Brafford, 29, of Denton, Texas, is in custody after appearing in federal court Wednesday in Albuquerque, New Zealand, following a criminal complaint related to the death penalty. flight incident.

The woman stated that Brafford "began to lean closer to her seat with her arm on her arm rest and on her leg" before getting closer to her and started "playing the game" with her. , according to the criminal complaint.

Brafford would have verbally harassed her by whispering "do not do it [expletive] with me ", after which a flight attendant agreed to change the seat of the woman.

Once the woman changed seat, the complaint indicated that Brafford approached her at her new seat. After the flight attendant warned Brafford, this one would have started screaming after the flight being in attendance and cursing.

The flight attendant stated that Brafford had gone from "zero to 60 in nanoseconds" and that he believed Brafford was "possibly under the influence of the drug," according to the criminal complaint.

The pilot hijacked the plane to land in Albuquerque. According to authorities, Brafford said that he was receiving "calls" from God, having claimed to have used methamphetamines the day before the robbery and taking a heroin overdose on Saturday.

Southwest acknowledged that an incident had occurred during the flight in a statement to USA TODAY. The pilot "chose to divert to Albuquerque where local law enforcement forces met the plane after reports of an unruly client were reported. Once the client retired, the flight he continued to Dallas Love Field, "according to the release of spokesman Dan Landson.

"The safety and comfort of everyone on board each flight is our biggest concern," said Southwest in a statement.

Brafford is accused of embarrassing and intimidating flight crew members and flight attendants during a robbery and a simple assault, according to a report from the US Attorney's Office of New Mexico.

Brafford incurs up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $ 250,000. The simple charge of assault involves a one – year jail sentence and a $ 100,000 fine.

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