A pilot flying from Rome to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing over the weekend when a passenger threw a temper tantrum after flight attendants denied him an extra bag of nuts.

Officials say that Jeremiah Mathis Thede, a 42-year-old man who holds dual citizenship in Italy and the United States, became unruly when his demands for a second bag of nuts were rejected on an international United Airlines flight. As a result, the pilot became concerned and was forced to divert to Belfast in Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Once the flight landed, Thede was escorted by police and charged with "endangering the safety of the plane, disruptive behaviour on board an aircraft and common assault" on a female member of the cabin crew, reports NBC Bay Area. The man is now being held in custody under psychiatric evaluation.

On Monday, police appeared before Coleraine magistrates' court and testified that the incident began shortly after takeoff when Thede "asked to be given nuts or crackers," reports The Guardian. After he was given some nuts, he later asked for more. That is when the situation escalated and the pilot became concerned about Thede's display of erratic behavior.

According to Mirror.co.uk, just 15 minutes after takeoff, Thede stood up even though the seat belt sign was on and refused to sit down that until he was given nuts and crackers.

Passengers on board the plane, however, told WGN-TV that Thede was unruly way before the "nuts incident."

Because of the flight's emergency grounding, the other 282 passengers on board the plane were forced to spend the night in the Belfast airport. They then took off for Chicago on the following day, Sunday.