California man indicted in Oklahoma for disrupting flight

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A Los Angeles man has been indicted in Oklahoma on federal charges he disrupted a flight from Arlington, Virginia, to Los Angeles, forcing it to divert to Oklahoma City. Court records show 45-year-old Ariel James Pennington is charged with interfering with a flight attendant and assaulting a federal air marshal.

Pennington pleaded not guilty during a Wednesday court appearance. His attorney did not answer a phone call seeking comment.

Pennington was arrested on December 9th after the Delta Airlines flight landed in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City police said at the time that Pennington was disorderly and intoxicated.