Claimed Bomb Was Onboard AirTran Flight

A man whom authorities say claimed there was a bomb aboard an AirTran Airways flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta last month was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday.

David Dwayne Sidler was charged with assaulting a flight attendant during the January 21 flight. Authorities say Sidler, 38, became agitated during the flight, and began to pace the aisle as he talked about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

When the flight attendant called the captain about his behavior, Sidler allegedly grabbed the FA and took the phone from her. He also told the pilot to land the aircraft because of a bomb onboard.

There was no air marshal on the flight... but there were four Atlanta police officers on the plane, who were returning from a narcotics conference in Las Vegas. They subdued Sidler

Prosecutors say Sidler grabbed the flight attendant when she called the captain about his behavior, then took the phone from her and told the pilot to land the plane because there was a bomb on board.

Four Atlanta police officers returning from a narcotics conference in Las Vegas subdued Sidler. He was later arrested by the FBI at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Sidler, who later claimed he had taken methamphetamine, faces up to 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine for the incident.

Investigators said Sidler claimed he had been taking methamphetamine. The charge against him carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Sidler isn't the first AirTran passenger who's caused the carrier grief lately. As Aero-News reported earlier this month, a teenage girl called in a bomb threat at LaGuardia last November in order to keep her connecting flight on the ground, while she rushed to make the flight to Atlanta in order to keep her boyfriend from confronting... her other boyfriend.

FMI: www.airtran.com