Air passenger arrested for going to toilet

An airline passenger who allegedly got up to go the toilet 30 minutes before landing has been arrested under new Olympics safety laws.

Richard Bizarro could be jailed for 20 years on charges of interfering with a flight crew.

The 59-year-old allegedly left his seat 25 minutes before landing despite two warnings from the captain to the 90 passengers to stay put.

Bizarro was on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City on Saturday when the incident is alleged to have happened.

After the incident, undercover air marshals on the plane ordered all passengers to put their hands on their heads for the rest of the flight. Bizarro was jailed overnight but later released.

Authorities said a flight attendant instructed Bizarro to return to his seat immediately after he left the bathroom.

She said Bizarro, who is 6ft 2in tall and weighs 220lb, ignored her orders and stared at her for about a minute before returning to his seat.

The incident was seen by two of three undercover air marshals on board. One of the agents said he saw Bizarro give what appeared to be a "thumbs up" to another passenger as he returned to his seat, prompting the marshals to take control of the cabin.

The Salt Lake City rule requiring no passenger movement during the last 30 minutes went into effect on February 5. It already had been in effect for flights to Reagan International Airport in Washington.