Passenger allegedly turned violent

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Disruptive behavior by a young Saudi Arabian man aboard a Continental Airlines flight this week turned violent, officials in Portland, Ore., said Wednesday.

While it was initially reported the Tuesday afternoon incident centered on the passenger's refusal to turn off an e-cigarette, authorities said Wednesday Yazeed Mohammed Abunayyan, 19, took a swing at a flight attendant, and hit or tried to hit several passengers on Continental Flight 1118 before he was subdued and handcuffed. His behavior prompted the crew of the Houston-bound plane to return to Portland where Abunayyan was taken into custody.

He also is accused of "yelling profanities" and "speaking or singing about Osama bin Laden and his hatred of women," The (Portland) Oregonian reported the charges against him state.

He was to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon on a federal charge of interfering with flight crew members and attendants.

The newspaper said Abunayyan also was arrested Sunday by Ashland police after a low-speed car chase. He is accused of ramming two police cars while driving under the influence of intoxicants, and faces multiple charges in that case.

Steve Johnson, a spokesman for the Port of Portland, said the man turned on his e-cigarette sometime after the plane departed from Portland and was uncooperative when asked to turn it off.

Electronic cigarettes do not burn tobacco, instead a lithium battery heats a liquid nicotine solution that creates a vapor inhaled by the user, the newspaper said.

Federal law prohibits smoking tobacco products on commercial planes but does not mention e-cigarettes and a Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman told the newspaper e-cigarettes are not prohibited by the agency. Continental Airlines, however, bans "the use of electronic, simulated smoking materials," including cigarettes, pipes and cigars on its flights, the newspaper said.

The U.S. Transportation said last fall it plans to prohibit the devices explicitly but has not yet enacted a ban, the newspaper said.