FBI: Flight Attendant Created Hoax Forcing Emergency Landing

The FBI says a flight attendant fabricated a story about a suspicious package on a Delta Airlines flight that led to an emergency landing at a North Dakota airport last week.

The allegations are included in documents unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Bismarck. A complaint charges Justin Cox-Sever with interfering with the operation of an aircraft and communicating false information.

The Dickinson airport was temporarily shut down Wednesday when the aircraft traveling from Minneapolis landed.

An FBI affidavit says Cox-Sever admitted to stuffing a bag with towels and later reporting it as a suspicious package making beeping noises.

Cox-Sever's attorney didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. Cox-Sever is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

SkyWest Airlines, which operated the flight for Delta, on Thursday said Cox-Sever was placed on administrative leave pending a police investigation.