Male Model Accused of Threatening 'Murder' During Flight Lands in Court

A male model was expected to make his first appearance in federal court Friday on charges of disrupting a flight from Chicago to John Wayne Airport.

Arash Durrani was arrested early Wednesday as he was being treated at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Irvine, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court.

Durrani was on a United Airlines flight from O'Hare International Airport bound for John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana Tuesday night when he allegedly got so disruptive the flight crew asked passengers to help restrain him, according to the FBI.

As the plane was readying for takeoff, Durrani allegedly left his seat and walked toward the first-class section, forcing the flight crew to cut short its pre-flight safety briefing, according to the FBI.

When Durrani was convinced to get back in his seat he refused to turn off his cell phone for several minutes, federal officials said.

``While the aircraft was in flight, Durrani continued to harass and bother the flight crew by repeatedly asking for more alcoholic beverages,''according to the FBI affidavit. ``Additionally, Durrani harassed the female members of the flight crew and several female passengers. At one point, Durrani asked a female passenger if she wanted to sit on his lap and offered drugs to the same female passenger.''

Durrani was also accused of grabbing his backpack and walking to the front of the plane yelling, ``I want to go home now,'' according to the FBI.

When he was refused alcohol, he shouted, ``I'm from Afghanistan and I will murder all of you,'' according to the FBI. It was then that one passenger, identified as Chris Long, told Durrani to ``go sit down,'' the FBI alleged.

Durrani allegedly sat across from Long, knocked over the soda on his tray table, pointed a finger in his face and threatened to beat him up, the FBI alleged. Durrani would not sit down, prompting the pilot to ask for help restraining him, according to the FBI.

As he struggled with passengers he shouted, ``I'll murder all of you guys,'' the FBI alleged.

Two physicians aboard the flight helped subdue him with an injection of Diazepam, according to the affidavit.

Durrani was taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant issued in Los Angeles County last October, according to the FBI.

Durrani was expected to appear before a magistrate judge in Los Angeles federal court Friday morning, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

- City News Service