BUFFALO – A man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly urinated in the aisle of an American Airlines plane that was en route from Chicago to New Hampshire and diverted to land in Buffalo, federal authorities said.
Neil McCarthy arrested on American Airlines flight
A 25-year-old man from Oregon, Neil McCarthy, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure after the incident on a flight from Chicago to New Hampshire.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Flight diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport
The plane, which was bound for Manchester, New Hampshire, landed at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
A Niagara Border Transport Authority (NFTA) officer boarded the plane and spoke to a flight attendant, who explained the incident, after which McCarthy was arrested and escorted off the plane.
After McCarthy was removed from the plane, the flight continued on to New Hampshire.
Neil McCarthy appears before a U.S. magistrate judge
After being taken into custody, McCarthy made his first appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge and was released on bail.
“The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the Department of Justice said in a press release.
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is located about an hour north of Boston. American Airlines is one of seven airlines that operate out of this New Hampshire airport.
There are no further details about the incident at this time.