WASHINGTON (AP) — A 64-year-old man was arrested Tuesday night after setting fire to his seat on board a United Airlines flight at Washington's Dulles International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration said.
TSA spokesman Robert Johnson said the man — who appeared to be Russian — was "difficult" during boarding for United Flight 383 to Chicago, shoving passengers on his way to the gate.
After boarding the aircraft around 7 p.m., the man got into an altercation with a flight attendant as the plane was pushing back from the gate, Johnson said. The man then pulled out a cigarette lighter and started a small fire in his seat.