Chicago man accused of prompting JetBlue landing

DENVER — Federal prosecutors say a Chicago man prompted a JetBlue flight to make an emergency landing in Denver after making passengers uncomfortable and groping a pregnant woman.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver said Tuesday that Marcus Covington has been charged with interfering with the duties of a flight crew and flight attendant.

Authorities allege the 32-year-old was intoxicated and saying things to passengers that didn’t make sense on the New York-to-Los Angeles flight late Sunday. He allegedly groped the pregnant woman as he waited in the bathroom line.

Prosecutors say Covington refused a flight attendant’s request to stay seated, prompting the intervention of an FBI agent traveling on the plane. Covington sat between the agent and another passenger until the plane landed.

Covington is in custody and doesn’t have a lawyer yet.