DETROIT (AP) -- A Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up an international flight near Detroit on Christmas is returning to a federal courtroom for the first time since January.

A pretrial hearing is being held Monday in the case against Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds could set a trial date.

Abdulmutallab is in custody awaiting trial on charges that include attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Nearly 300 people were aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

Defense lawyers say they've been talking to prosecutors about a plea deal. Abdulmutallab has not appeared in court since Jan. 8.

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