Jet Blue grounded after drunk man fondled pregnant passenger

Marcus Covington, 32, from Chicago is facing federal charges after acting out on a Jet Blue flight on Tuesday. Screen shot via CBS/Yoram Kohanzedeh)

A Chicago man was arrested by Denver police after he caused a commotion on  Jet Blue flight on Tuesday . The incident forced the airline to make an emergency landing in Denver, Colorado en route from New York to Los Angeles.

Police say that Marcus Covington, 32,  was causing havoc on the flight after he threatened a flight attendant and groped a pregnant woman, 27,  while waiting for the lavatory. Covington was also accused of acting belligerent and refusing to stay seated. The pilot decided to land, fearing that Covington’s behavior might escalate. Upon landing, Covington was arrested.

Witnesses say that the police came aboard the aircraft and led Covington away in handcuffs. Police believe he was likely intoxicated. As police walked him out, witnesses observed Covington using excessive profanity and spitting on police all why a asking out loud why the police and flight crew would do this to him. He asked what he had done wrong. Witnesses say he looked as if he was stumbling, trying to catch his footing. Some passengers say they saw him taking pills right before he started to spin out of control.

The behavior could cost Covington up to 20 years in prison for interfering with a flight crew, which is a federal crime.

The pilot on board announced over the intercom what was going on and asked everyone for their patience as they rectified the situation.

Source: CBS