Judge sets bond for men in Amarillo diverted flight case

A federal magistrate judge in Amarillo on Wednesday appointed attorneys for six men arrested on charges related to a disturbance aboard a Southwest Airlines flight that was forced to land in Amarillo earlier this week.

The six men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clinton E. Averitte on Wednesday morning in Amarillo’s U.S. District Court. FBI agents brought in the six men in pairs from the Randall County jail, where they are being held.

Each of the six men is charged with one count of interference with a flight crew and aiding and abetting. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

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Averitte set their bonds at $10,000, unsecured, due to minimal or no prior criminal histories and they are expected to be released today. The conditions of their release were that they could not travel outside of the southern district of California unless they are traveling to Amarillo for court appearances.

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