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Mass. Plane Passenger Tries To Open Emergency Door

A Massachusetts man who allegedly tried to open an emergency door on a flight to Boston has pleaded not guilty to interfering with the operation on an aircraft.

Robert Hersey of Arlington on Wednesday was ordered held on $1,000 bail after an incident his attorney called a "non-event."

Prosecutors say the 43-year-old Hersey tampered with the plane's emergency exit door during the Delta flight from Orlando, Fla. A Delta spokeswoman says an off-duty police officer subdued Hersey.

Passengers say he'd been drinking and appeared upset when the flight was late.

His attorney, Ron Wayland, says Hersey accidentally touched the cover for the door, the cover fell off and he replaced it. Wayland says that caused a light to go off and the pilot to order Hersey moved to another seat.

This program aired on May 11, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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