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Flight diverted to Portland, man faces federal charge

Douglass Smyser

A Bonney Lake man faces a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew after the FBI said he forced a commercial jet to divert to Portland.

On Thursday the FBI charged 21-year-old Douglass Smyser with interfering with a flight crew. Investigators say Smyser was onboard a flight from Sea-Tac to Los Angeles Wednesday night when he started acting erratically.

Investigators said he was pacing the aisle, refusing to take his seat, and making several lunges towards the cockpit.

A passenger finally pinned Smyser while the captain safely landed in Portland.

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