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Former flight attendant says he started plane fire above ND

Authorities say he started a fire in the bathroom of a 2008 Compass Airlines flight because he was unhappy he had to work the route

The Associated Press

FARGO, N.D. — A 22-year-old former flight attendant has pleaded guilty to starting a fire aboard an airplane and forcing an emergency landing in Fargo.

Eder Rojas, formerly of Woodbury, Minn., is charged with starting a fire aboard an aircraft and failure to appear. Authorities say Rojas started a fire in the bathroom of a 2008 Compass Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Regina, Saskatchewan, because he was unhappy he had to work the route.

Monday’s plea agreement calls for the government to drop the failure to appear charge. Rojas walked away from a Fargo halfway house in 2008 and was a fugitive for nearly three years. He was arrested in Mexico in March.

He faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced Dec. 16.