Charges were dropped Friday against a California man whose bizarre note diverted a Los Angeles-bound 757 to Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA - Charges were dropped Friday against a California man whose bizarre note diverted a Los Angeles-bound 757 to Shreveport under fighter jet escort. <br> <br> Edward A. Stephenson, 36, of Los Angeles, suffers from a delusional disorder making him incapable of understanding his actions, according to the motion to dismiss from U.S. Attorney Donald W. Patterson. Stephenson had been charged with interfering with a flight crew, which can be punishable by up to 20 years in prison. <br> <br> The Delta Air Lines 757 with 139 passengers aboard made an emergency landing at Shreveport Regional Airport on Oct. 10. <br> <br> During a hearing Oct. 11, an FBI agent testified that, when the pilot said he was changing course to avoid bad weather, Stephenson gave a flight attendant a note saying the plane should stay on course. <br> <br> ``He assured her it was a serious matter. He was trying to protect the plane and the crew from flying over Texas. There were things he knew they didn&#39;t know ... He said a president of Texas did not like him,&#39;&#39; agent Clifford Bland testified.

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