'Creepy' Guy Demanding Nuts Disrupts Transatlantic Flight

A belligerent, “creepy” man who demanded more nuts forced a Chicago-bound United Airlines flight from Rome to divert to Northern Ireland — a move which set off a chain of events that ended with passengers sleeping on the floor of the Belfast Airport.

United flight UA971 landed in Belfast Saturday so the passenger, Jeremiah Mathis Thede, could be arrested. But the diversion put the flight crew over the hours permitted by the FAA, which grounded the entire 14-person crew and 269 passengers.

The flight sat on the tarmac for five hours before the United Airlines passengers could get into the airport. A lack of hotel space meant many passengers had to sleep in the airport. Some of them bunked down in baggage claim. Hotel staff brought in blankets and pillows. The flight resumed Sunday.

Thede, 42, is charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft, disruptive behavior and common assault. He has dual American and Italian citizenship.

A passenger, Rick Sliter of San Diego, told NBC News that Thede was “creepy” and disruptive throughout the flight.

“While he was on the flight he had constantly gone to the bathroom to change his shirt four or five times and was staring at people in a creepy way,” Sliter said. “My understanding is that an air marshal notified the flight attendants who spoke with the captain who chose to land.”

Passengers were upset with United because so little information was shared during the ordeal and delays.

“We understand the inconvenience this causes our customers and will refund their Rome to Chicago flight as well as offer the choice of a travel certificate or miles for our MileagePlus loyalty program,” United said in a statement.

The FAA could fine United for not communicating with passengers.