MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax) - The passenger on a Surgut-Moscow flight who demanded that the plane go to Afghanistan could be mentally ill, an informed source told Interfax.
"There is preliminary information that the man could be mentally ill," the source said.
The man has been repeatedly detained for administrative infractions committed under the influence of alcohol.
A source in air traffic control services said earlier that a passenger on the flight had demanded that the plane head for Afghanistan.
An informed source that that the demand was made by a 41-year-old citizen of Russia.