U.S. Passenger Held for Refusal to Put Out Cigar on Plane
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LONDON — A court ordered an American businessman held without bail today on an assault charge stemming from a dispute over his refusal to put out a cigar on a TWA transatlantic flight.
The court refused a request for bail by Steven Varvaris, 52, of Jackson, Miss., after police said they wanted to charge him with violating the Aviation Security Act, which carries a maximum life sentence.
The court adjourned the hearing until Thursday, when Varvaris is expected to make another application for bail.
Varvaris appeared at Uxbridge magistrates’ court on a charge of causing actual bodily harm to fellow passenger Wayne Nanna on the flight from Athens to New York.
Authorities said Varvaris sparked a “serious disturbance” on the Boeing 747 jumbo jet when he refused to put out a cigar Friday night, forcing the pilot to land at London, where police arrested the businessman.
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