Accused Of Setting Lav On Fire To Get Out Of Work

The flight attendant who admitted to deliberately starting a fire in the lavatory of the aircraft he was crewing in May has pleaded not guilty to charges.

Eder Rojas -- a now former flight attendant with Compass Airlines -- appeared in the Fargo, ND federal court last week. He is charged with knowingly and willfully setting fire to an aircraft, according to the Associated Press.

As reported by ANN, Rojas confessed he deliberately started a fire in the rear lavatory of the Embraer 175 during the May 7 flight, because he was upset the airline made him work that route. Rojas stuffed an extra packet of paper towels in the lav's dispenser just before the flight left Minneapolis.

Rojas later told authorities he reached into the lav and lit the towels on fire before starting beverage service.

The flames forced Flight 2040 to divert to Fargo, where it made an uneventful emergency landing. None of the 72 passengers and four crewmembers onboard were injured, though they were questioned by FBI agents and police upon arrival.

A federal prosecutor says Rojas was also crewing a flight whose bathroom caught fire about five weeks earlier. The prosecutor stated in both cases Rojas helped put out the fire.

Rojas was released to the custody of his father. Trial is scheduled for July 21.

FMI: www.compassairlines.com, www.ndd.uscourts.gov