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TSA: Drunk fire-starter on plane in police custody

EDITOR'S NOTE: Charges against Zoltan Lensky were subsequently dropped, according to court documents provided by his representative. Court documents also state that Mr. Lensky's test results were negative for both drugs and alcohol. CNN reached out to Delta Airlines; the airline had no comment. The story has been updated to reflect the disposition of the case.

  • Story Highlights
  • TSA: A drunk passenger tried to set the curtains of a Boeing 767 on fire
  • Zoltan Lensky, 25, a Slovakian citizen, was on Delta flight from Atlanta to Vienna
  • He allegedly slapped a flight attendant's hand when she refused to provide more booze
  • Lensky was handed over to authorities in Vienna when the flight landed
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A drunk passenger who tried to set the curtains of a Boeing 767 on fire during a trans-Atlantic flight is in custody in Vienna, Austria, the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday.

A drunk Delta passenger was placed in custody after he tried to light curtains on fire during a flight.

Reportedly a drunk Delta passenger was placed in custody after he allegedly tried to light curtains on fire during a flight.

There was no apparent connection to terrorism, officials said.

Zoltan Lensky, 25, a Slovakian citizen, was on Delta Flight 40 from Atlanta, Georgia, to Vienna Wednesday night when flight attendants refused his request for more liquor.

According to TSA spokesman Christopher White, Lensky slapped a flight attendant on the hand, moved forward in the cabin, pulled out a lighter and tried to ignite the curtains around the flight attendants' rest area.

A federal air marshal on the flight arrested Lensky and put him in handcuffs, White said. Lensky was handed over to authorities in Vienna when the flight landed.

It is policy for air marshals never to fly alone. According to White, the other air marshal, or marshals, on the Delta flight remained undercover in case Lensky was being used as a diversion. However, "he was nothing but an intoxicated passenger," said White.

Charges against Lensky were eventually dropped, according to court documents. CNN reached out to Delta, but the airline had no comment.

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