Passenger took cocaine before disrupting flight: lawyer

An attorney says a Canadian man took cocaine before boarding a flight where he allegedly attacked the crew with coffee pots and tried to open a cabin door.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Brandon Michael Courneyea, 34, appearedMondayin Federal Court in Orlando, Fla.

He has been charged with interfering with flight crew members and attendants after his May 15 flight from Jamaica to Canada was diverted to Orlando.

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Ont. man arrested after allegedly assaulting flight crew

7 years ago

Duration 0:23

An Ontario man is in federal custody in the United States after allegedly assaulting members of an Air Canada flight crew.

Defence lawyer Corey Cohen said Courneyea was "very remorseful" about the incident.

Cohen said Courneyea took cocaine an hour before the Air Canada flight.

Toxicology reports are pending.

Cohen has asked the judge to release Courneyea into his father's custody so they can return home to Kingston, Ont.

Prosecutors want Courneyea to remain in jail.