Swedish activist on trial for deportation protest that stopped flight

A Swedish woman who live-streamed a protest ona plane at a Swedish airport in a bid to stop the deportation of anAfghan man went on trial Monday for violating air trafficregulations.Elin Ersson live-streamed her July 23 protest to Facebook from insidethe plane at Gothenburg Landvetter Airport. The clip showing herrefusing to sit down went viral. Ersson was heard saying in the videothat some passengers had also stood up in support.The stand-off involving Ersson, a Turkish Airlines flight attendantand some other passengers was resolved when the Afghan man and Erssondisembarked from the plane.Ersson has stated that she was acting on moral grounds, and thatAfghanistan was not safe for returnees.Her attorney, Tomas Fridh, challenged the charges. He filed adocument from a Stockholm University doctor of law, DennisMartinsson, who questioned if the aviation law could be applied forthe charges filed, noting for instance that Ersson was told to sitdown by the crew and not the pilot.Ersson faces a fine or up to six months in prison if convicted.The Afghan man, 52, was later deported to Afghanistan.The Istanbul-bound Turkish Airlines flight was delayed almost 2hours. The airline has not requested compensation according to courtdocuments.The proceedings were held at the Gothenburg district court. Courtofficials had no immediate date for when the ruling was due.Ersson is a member of an activist group in the western city ofGothenburg that has staged regular protests against deportations toAfghanistan.