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sabotaging emergency equipment
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A flight attendant was accused of damaging emergency equipment aboard 14 flights, causing them to be delayed or canceled.
Steven Hirtzinger, 23, appeared in federal court Thursday to face charges of causing a plane to become inoperable. He was accused of tampering with equipment aboard Pinnacle Airlines flights, including fire extinguishers, oxygen tanks and breathing gear used by pilots in emergencies, according to a complaint filed by the Milwaukee-based carrier.
The sabotage began in August and continued through Wednesday, allegedly increasing as Christmas neared. Pinnacle security officials set up a sting after noting that all but one of the 13 incidents happened on flights when Hirtzinger was on duty. The only exception involved a plane he had flown on earlier, the complaint said.
Hirtzinger was arrested Wednesday at his home. His attorney, Fred Bruno, said Hirtzinger will plead not guilty and that he had reported the equipment problems to a supervisor.
The airline conducted an inspection of its fleet and found no additional equipment damage.
Pinnacle operates commuter flights to and from Northwest Airlines hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A flight attendant was accused of damaging emergency equipment aboard 14 flights, causing them to be delayed or canceled.
Steven Hirtzinger, 23, appeared in federal court Thursday to face charges of causing a plane to become inoperable. He was accused of tampering with equipment aboard Pinnacle Airlines flights, including fire extinguishers, oxygen tanks and breathing gear used by pilots in emergencies, according to a complaint filed by the Milwaukee-based carrier.
The sabotage began in August and continued through Wednesday, allegedly increasing as Christmas neared. Pinnacle security officials set up a sting after noting that all but one of the 13 incidents happened on flights when Hirtzinger was on duty. The only exception involved a plane he had flown on earlier, the complaint said.
Hirtzinger was arrested Wednesday at his home. His attorney, Fred Bruno, said Hirtzinger will plead not guilty and that he had reported the equipment problems to a supervisor.
The airline conducted an inspection of its fleet and found no additional equipment damage.
Pinnacle operates commuter flights to and from Northwest Airlines hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.