Chicago-Portland flight disrupted, man accused aggressiveness with flight crew

For the second time this month, an airliner landed in Portland after officials said a passenger became disruptive.

The Oregonian reports that 29-year-old Jared McKay appeared Tuesday in federal court, accused of interfering with a United Airlines flight crew after the plane left Chicago on its way to Portland.

An FBI affidavit said McKay wanted four drinks after takeoff on Monday, got increasingly aggressive over Colorado, demanded more drinks, yelled profanities, took over an attendant's seat, and emerged from a bathroom smelling of cigarette smoke.

The pilot considered diverting the flight but was told the passenger had fallen asleep or passed out.

The federal public defender's office, which is representing McKay, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

On March 4, a Southwest Airlines pilot on a Seattle-to-Sacramento flight made an emergency stop in Portland. Officers accused a passenger of demanding multiple glasses of wine, shouting, swearing and displaying gang signs.