Man accused of rushing cockpit to be examined

Massachusetts resident charged with interfering with flight crew

Michael Dwyer / AP

Itay Atmor, 22, of Israel, right, and his father David Atmor, hug outside East Boston District court as he arrives for his arraignment on charges of interfering with a flight crew, Monday, April 27, in Boston.

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Man attempts to rush Delta cockpit
April 25: Delta Airlines flight from New York to Israel forced to stop in Boston after a passenger apparently attempted to enter the cockpit.

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updated 6:53 p.m. ET April 27, 2009

BOSTON - An Israeli man accused of rushing the cockpit of an airliner, forcing it to land in Boston, has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation at a hospital.

Itay Atmor was arraigned Monday in East Boston District Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of interfering with a flight crew.

Massachusetts State Police say the 22-year-old Medford, Mass., resident tried to get through the cockpit door on a Delta flight from New York to Tel Aviv, Israel, late Friday. Passengers say they subdued Atmor, who was arrested when the plane landed.

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Atmor told police he was having a panic attack. Defense lawyer David Meier says Atmor was flying to Israel for psychiatric help.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. says the flight had 206 passengers and 11 crew members aboard.

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