Hard to believe, but not everyone pines to visit Saskatchewan

The FBI has solved the case of the smoking airplane. FBI agents from Fargo, North Dakota arrested a Compass Airlines steward on Thursday and charged him with setting a fire on board Compass Air's regular scheduled flight on May 7th,a flight that had an original flight plan of Minneapolis to Regina.

On that day however, the flight was interrupted by a forced emergency landing in Fargo when a fire broke out aboard the plane. The flight at the time was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, the majority of whom actually apparently didn't mind the idea of having to travel to Saskatchewan in May.

Eder Rojas, 19 a steward with the airline was charged with starting the fire, reportedly because he was unhappy with this employers work assignment.
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According to court documents, “Rojas further stated that he was preparing his cart to serve the passengers, he set the cart up, went back to the lavatory and reached in with his right hand and lit the paper towels with the lighter.”

If convicted of the charge he could face up to a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, on the bright side with the conviction he would be also no doubt be barred from air travel to Canada...


Flight attendant accused of setting fire on Regina flight
DAVE KOLPACK
Associated Press
May 16, 2008 at 1:00 AM EDT

FARGO, N.D. — A flight attendant angry about his work route set a fire in an airplane bathroom, forcing an emergency landing, authorities said.

The Compass Airlines flight carrying 72 passengers and four crew members landed safely in Fargo on May 7 after smoke filled the back. No injuries were reported. The plane was flying from Minneapolis to Regina, authorities said.

Eder Rojas, 19, appeared in court Thursday, following his arrest a day earlier in Minneapolis, and ordered held without bail, prosecutors said. The charge of setting fire aboard a civil aircraft carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

His public defender did not return a phone call seeking comment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Jordheim, who is prosecuting the case in Fargo, would not comment.

Court documents said Mr. Rojas, of the Twin Cities suburb of Woodbury, told authorities he was upset at the airline for making him work the route.

“Rojas further stated that he was preparing his cart to serve the passengers, he set the cart up, went back to the lavatory and reached in with his right hand and lit the paper towels with the lighter,” court documents said.

Pilot Steve Peterka told authorities that an indicator light came on about 35 minutes into the flight, showing smoke in the rear bathroom.

Mr. Peterka called Mr. Rojas, who was assigned passengers in the back of the plane, and asked him to check the bathroom, documents said. Mr. Rojas, another flight attendant and a passenger were credited with quickly putting out the flames with fire extinguishers, authorities said.

Investigators later found a lighter in one of the overhead bins. Mr. Rojas confessed after authorities interviewed him, the complaint said.

Compass is a subsidiary of Northwest Airlines, based in Eagan, Minn. Mr. Rojas has been fired, said Northwest spokesman Rob Laughlin. Northwest did not say how long Mr. Rojas worked for the airline.

FBI agent Ralph Boelter said Compass Airlines officials showed “extraordinary co-operation” in the investigation.