A federal grand jury has indicted a Florida man on a charge of interfering with a flight crew after his unruly behavior aboard a Southwest Airlines flight led to an emergency landing in Texas.

U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldana said 29-year-old Ali Reza Shahsavari of Indialantic, Fla., made his initial court appearance Thursday, two days after his arrest at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.


Attorney Jeff Blackburn says Shahsavari had a nervous breakdown while on his way to Florida for mental health treatment, calling it "a tragic case of a poor young guy who is mentally ill."

A detention hearing is set for Tuesday.