Derek Stansberry, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Identified As Delta Flight 273 Detainee

Derek Stansberry, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Identified As Delta Flight 273 Detainee

Derek Stansberry, a 26-year-old Air Force Veteran, has been identified by numerous news outlets as the man detained after a transatlantic Delta flight diversion on Tuesday.

Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Linda Pepin confirmed that the man detained was a senior airman and intelligence specialist, who was on active duty from 2005 to 2009 and was last stationed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., the Times Online reports.

Richard Stansberry, father of Derek Stansberry, spoke to the media, stating he was perplexed by the incident and Derek had lived a "squeaky clean life," per the AP.

The elder Stansberry also said:

"Regardless of what was said on a plane, the safety of the passengers come first. Hopefully, everything will get ironed out and he'll get to come home. He is a good boy."

Derek Stansberry allegedly claimed he had explosives in his luggage.

Derek Stansberry is said to reside in Riverside, Fla. A Facebook page belonging to a Derek Stansberry in Riverview has been found.

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