A New Jersey man has been indicted by a federal grand jury after both the crew and passengers on an American Airlines flight alleged he tried to open the plane’s door mid-flight.
In a press release shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, authorities said 26-year-old Eric Gapco of Delanco “failed to follow instructions to remain in his seat, propositioned a flight attendant for sex, was repeatedly loud, smoked, disturbed other passengers, locked himself out into the lavatory and repeatedly tried to open the outer doors of the aircraft while the aircraft was in flight.”
Gapco was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 2101 from Seattle to Dallas on Thursday, July 18.
Videos taken during the flight allegedly show Gapco randomly yelling to other passengers on the flight, including: “I’m sane” and “I don’t want to get hurt,” according to local Utah broadcaster KSL-TV.
“As a result, Gapco was secured during the flight by flight crew members and other passengers with flexible restraints around his feet and hands,” the office wrote in its statement.
The flight was eventually diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport, and video of the incident obtained by CBS News and KSL-TV shows Gapco, shirtless with bright yellow laces tied around his ankles and wrists, being led off the plane under Utah enforcement law.
He can be heard yelling “I have to go to the hospital” as law enforcement officers try to get him under control. The videos also show Gapco yelling “You say potato, I say po-tah-to” and yelling his name as he walks down the aisle of the plane with officers.
According to court documents obtained by KSL-TV, the man told the Utah officers who arrested him that he had eaten about 10 cannabis edibles “and was unsure of the milligram THC content of each edible.”
The documents also say he “continued to engage in violent and erratic behavior after he was arrested upon landing in Salt Lake City,” CBS reported. Utah County State’s Attorney Trina A. Higgins said in a news release that Gapco was charged with “obstructing a flight crew” and “attempting to damage an aircraft in the special aviation jurisdiction of the United States.”
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According to local arrest records, Utah officials also charged Gapco with throwing a substance (such as blood, urine or fecal material or saliva) at an officer, damaging a prison or other place of confinement, disorderly conduct and more.
“The case is being jointly investigated by the Salt Lake City FBI Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department,” the US Attorney’s Office added.
According to a press release, Gapco was scheduled to make its first court appearance for arraignment Thursday, Aug. 1, in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.
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Source: HIS Education