Unruly passenger removed from US Airways flight

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By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

A 37-year-old Hudson man was arrested today after allegedly becoming unruly on a US Airways flight waiting to take off from Logan International Airport for the Washington area, State Police said.

Ognjen Milatovic was arraigned today in East Boston District Court on charges of disorderly conduct and interfering with operation of an aircraft. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court on March 15, the Suffolk district attorney's office said.

The incident happened as Flight 2025 was waiting to depart Gate 21, headed for Reagan National Airport.

Milatovic allegedly would not comply with a flight attendant's instructions, refusing to take his seat and refusing to place his carry-on luggage into the overhead compartment, State Police said.

One passenger also reported hearing a noise coming from a plastic bag that Milatovic was carrying when he finally put it in the overhead bin. Another passenger also reported that Milatovic made a furtive movement and a quick cellphone call, stating, "I have boarded."

Troopers removed Milatovic from the plane. A State Police dog checked the plastic bag he had put in the overhead compartment and his checked luggage. The dog's inspection had "negative results," State Police said.

State Police spokesman David Procopio said, "There's no indications ... of him posing any type of terrorism-related threats."

But he said troopers and the airplane's captain formed the opinion that Milatovic's actions caused unnecessary alarm to the passengers and interfered with the ability of the crew to operate the flight.

The flight had 117 passengers and five crew aboard, said Logan spokesman Phil Orlandella. After more than an hour of delay, the plane left for Washington, State Police said.

Milatovic's attorney, Michael Capone, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

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