An obsessed and apparently intoxicated Hootie and the Blowfish fan caused the band's

flight to make an unscheduled stop in Denver on Thursday, after the man allegedly

attacked the group's bodyguard and several flight attendants, pestered the group for

advice and autographs and claimed to be a member of the band when asked to return to

his seat, according to police.

The passenger, Amit Singh, 19, was removed from the plane and taken to Denver Health

Medical Center for evaluation after the incident, which resulted in an unplanned stop for

American Airlines Flight 133, which had been en route from New York to Los Angeles,

Denver police said.

Police spokeswoman Detective Virginia Lopez said officers responded to a call at 6 p.m.

Thursday from the flight crew, who were complaining of an intoxicated passenger that

the captain and crew wanted removed from the aircraft.

"Officers responded to the rear of the aircraft and contacted Amit Singh, who was in his

seat, crying ... Paramedics responded to this party because he was extremely

intoxicated," Lopez said. "Any criminal charges will be determined by the FBI, including

possible interference with the flight crew, and the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] will determine if civil charges will

be filed. No charges have been filed at this time."

An American Airlines spokeswoman confirmed that the flight made an unscheduled stop

in Denver but said she had no further information regarding the incident. The flight,

which was carrying 100 passengers, was delayed for about an hour, according to police.

Band manager Rusty Harmon said the scene turned ugly after Singh was removed from

the first-class section, where the band was seated, to the back of the plane. "The guy was

threatening to kill the flight crew and the pilot. It was nuts. I have to applaud the American

[Airlines] crew for how well they handled the situation," Harmon said.

"After the plane landed, we moved the band back away from the aisle and the guy was

taken off by six police officers and a paramedic," Harmon added. "The whole way, he

was kicking and screaming and trying to bite the officers. He was completely out of

control."

Singh allegedly claimed to be a member of Hootie and the Blowfish as flight attendants

attempted to move him out of first class, Lopez said.

Singer Darius Rucker woke briefly as police were removing Singh from the plane but

didn't seem bothered by the incident, according to an Associated Press report.

"They were taking somebody out. I went back to sleep. I just wasn't really worried about

it," Rucker reportedly said.

Singh spent the night at Denver Health Medical Center, where he underwent a medical

evaluation and was discharged Friday morning (Sept. 18), according to hospital

spokeswoman Stephanie Denning. She added that Singh was not released to police

custody.

First catapulting into the spotlight with their multi-platinum debut, Cracked Rear

View (1994), which spawned such hits as "Hold My Hand" and "Only Wanna Be With

You," pop/blues/rock band Hootie and the Blowfish released their third LP, Musical

Chairs, on Tuesday.