FARGO - A flight attendant accused of setting a fire aboard a plane from Minneapolis to Canada has been released to the custody of his father after pleading not guilty.

Eder Rojas, 19, of Woodbury, Minn., appeared Thursday in federal court in Fargo, where the May 7 Compass Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing. He is charged with knowingly and willfully setting fire to an aircraft.

Prosecutors wanted Rojas to remain in jail, calling him a flight risk and a danger to the community. U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Klein said the government could not prove its case for keeping Rojas confined.

"I am going to cut you a break in this case and release you to your father's custody," Klein said.

Juan Rojas, who attended the hearing, lives in Chicago.

Authorities said Eder Rojas used a lighter to set fire to paper towels in the plane's bathroom because he was upset about having to work the route from Minneapolis to Regina, Saskatchewan. No injuries were reported among the 72 passengers and four crew members.

Compass is a subsidiary of Northwest Airlines, which fired Rojas after he was arrested.

Trial is scheduled for July 21. Rojas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He may be ordered to pay restitution for damage to the plane.

In arguing for detention, Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Reisenauer said the seriousness of the case shows that Rojas is a dangerous person. Reisenauer said Rojas is a greater flight risk because he's a Mexican citizen.

Defense attorney Steven Light said his client traveled to Mexico on vacation while the case was being investigated and came back when he knew he was a suspect. Rojas has a stable family in Chicago, Light said.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that he will return to answer these charges," Light said.

Reisenauer and Light declined to comment further after Thursday's hearing.

Klein added several conditions to the release, including weekly contact with a pretrial services officer and the possibility of counseling. Rojas was ordered to surrender his passport and not have contact with airline employees or passengers aboard the May 7 flight.

Klein also told Rojas he could not board any aircraft, even though she said it's likely he's on a no-fly list.