An American Airlines passenger's unruly behavior mid-flight caused his flight to be diverted on Thursday, July 18, 2024. After allegedly vaping, trying to open exterior doors multiple times, shouting, and exhibiting various other "disruptive and life-threatening behaviors," per the US Attorney's Office, Eric Gapco, the passenger, a 26-year-old man from New Jersey, was indicted by a federal grand jury.
The flight departed from Seattle, Washington, and was headed to Dallas, Texas, but because of the passenger's behavior, it was diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport.
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According to a news release from the US Attorney's Office, the passenger allegedly "failed to follow instructions to remain in his seat, propositioned a flight attendant for sex, was repeatedly loud, vaped, bothered other passengers, locked himself in the lavatory, and attempted to open the aircraft exterior doors multiple times while the aircraft was in flight."
Videos obtained by KSL TV also show the passenger shouting. In one video, passengers tried to help flight attendants restrain the passenger and get him to sit back down in his seat.
Eventually, the passenger was escorted off the plane by police in Salt Lake City. Videos obtained by CBS and KSL TV show that the passenger eventually cooperated with police and got off the plane.
However, he allegedly "continued to engage in violent and erratic behavior" afterwards, according to court documents obtained by CBS, including spitting on an officer.
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The outlet reported that the passenger told officers that he had consumed about 10 marijuana edibles and "was not sure of the THC milligrams content for each of the edibles."
The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and Salt Lake City Police Department are investigating the incident, and the passenger has been charged with "interference with a flight crew" and "attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States," United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins said in the news release.
