PASSENGER CHARGED WITH INTERFERENCE OF A FLIGHT CREW

Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Richard L. Morgan, Director of Public Safety, Columbus Regional Airport Authority; Perry Doran, Assistant Federal Security Director, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA); and Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio announced that Todd W. Tornstorm, age 31, of Chesterland, Ohio was arrested by FBI Agents and Port Columbus Airport Police on Thursday January 17, 2008..

Tornstrom has been charged in a federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with a violation of Title 49, U.S. Code Section 46504, Interference With Flight Crew Members and Attendants. Maximum punishment permitted under federal law upon conviction of these crimes is imprisonment for 20 years.

The federal complaint charges that at approximately 8:30 pm on January 17, Skybus Flight 81 was preparing to depart the Columbus Airport en route to Ft. Lauderdale. The flight was an Airbus A-319 with 134 passengers. The flight had been delayed approximately two hours. Flight personnel have advised that after being told to stow a companion's carry-on baggage Tornstrom claimed that he was a TSA agent, and that he had a gun. While taxing to the runway Tornstrom allegedly displayed a badge to a flight attendant who was sitting in a jump seat. The flight attendant became concerned because she thought the badge looked different from TSA badges she had seen in the past and because she heard Tornstrom comment to other passengers that he "had enough bullets for everyone on the plane." After the plane took off flight attendants informed the pilot who directed them to obtain identification from Tornstrom. After Tornstrom claimed to have lost his badge the pilot decided to return to the Columbus Airport. After burning off fuel the plane landed and Tornstrom was eventually arrested. At the time of his arrest he was in possession of a Bratenahl, Ohio Police Department badge with the inscriptions "Bratenahl Friend," "Sergeant" and "Todd."

Tornstrom will appear before a U.S. Magistrate today at the U.S. District Courthouse in Columbus for an Initial Appearance on the federal charge. The Magistrate will determine if bond will be permitted on the federal charges.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints are mere allegations of criminal conduct and that subjects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.