Federal Judge Declares Alleged Assailant Mentally Incompetent

A federal magistrate declares an Arkansas man who forced a plane to make an emergency landing in Tulsa, mentally incompetent. <br/><br/>Danny Hughey Junior is accused of stabbing a passenger twice in

Wednesday, August 9th 2006, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

A federal magistrate declares an Arkansas man who forced a plane to make an emergency landing in Tulsa, mentally incompetent.

Danny Hughey Junior is accused of stabbing a passenger twice in the back of the neck with a ballpoint pen and once in the hand last week.

US Magistrate Fran McCarthy has ruled Hughey cannot presently understand the criminal proceedings against him. An FBI affidavit says Hughey thought the passenger behind him was going to hijack the plane.

A final report on Hughey's condition could take up to four months.