Passenger on diverted flight charged after dispute

(AP) — A passenger who threatened to bring down an American Airlines flight was charged in federal court Wednesday following an inflight dispute that escalated after he was forbidden to smoke an e-cigarette.

An FBI affidavit filed with the criminal complaint recounted witness statements alleging that Baroletti started smoking an electronic cigarette about 10 minutes after takeoff.

The affidavit notes Baroletti has a criminal history that includes criminal threat that causes evacuation or disruption, possession of narcotics, operating a motor vehicle while impaired and criminal sale of controlled substances.

Bill McCarthy, a member of New York-based alternative rock band Augustines who was on the flight, said the passenger was "threatening to kill people," according to a statement given by McCarthy's manager to The Associated Press.