(New York City) A gay man involved in a bitter custody battle with his estranged husband has been arrested after stepping off a plane from Israel where he had fled with the son he and his former partner were raising.

Hyett and Joshua Glazer, 29, were married in Massachusetts four years ago and lived in New York City.  They separated last year.

While still together they adopted a boy they named Jedidiah shortly after his birth, when the boy’s mother, a friend of the couple’s, gave him up.

When then couple’s breakup turned nasty the battle centered around the boy, now 23 months old.

After the couple separated a court awarded Glazer primary custody and Hyett visitation rights.

Under the court terms Hyett was allowed to see the boy every weekend.

Earlier this month Hyett asked to keep the boy two extra days so that he could take Jedidiah to Boston to visit his grandparents and Glazer agreed. 

Hyett fled with the child to Jerusalem. Police returned Jedidiah to Glazer ten days ago.

Hyett returned to the US voluntarily. Police said it was doubtful Hyett could be extradited to face child abduction charges in the US.

He was arrested in Boston at Logan Airport and waived extradition to New York.

Wednesday afternoon he was arraigned in a Manhattan court.

Police say they believe it to be the first abduction case in New York City involving a married gay couple in memory.