‘Unruly’ Passenger Faces Charges for Attempting to Open Aircraft Door Mid-Flight (VIDEO)
Utah’s district attorney has charged Eric Nicholas Gapco for actions described as "engaging in disruptive and life-threatening behavior." For more details, visit RT.com.
TroibNews 
A New Jersey man reportedly consumed marijuana edibles before causing a disturbance on an American Airlines flight.
An American Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, Utah after a passenger, under the influence, tried to open the plane’s emergency door mid-flight and made inappropriate advances toward a flight attendant.
The incident took place on July 18 on flight 2101 en route to Dallas. Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, from Delanco, New Jersey, admitted to consuming ten marijuana edibles, according to a statement from the Utah district attorney released on Wednesday.
Gapco allegedly removed his shirt, began using a vape pen, refused to sit down, and assaulted crew members. A flight attendant ultimately restrained him by tying his hands and feet, leading the captain to divert the flight to Salt Lake City for an emergency landing.
In a video shared online, Gapco can be seen shouting “I am sane” as flight attendants attempt to calm him near the restroom.
Court documents reveal that he continued to act aggressively even after being arrested upon landing, damaging a glass door and spitting on a police officer.
“A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an alleged unruly passenger onboard an American Airlines flight after engaging in disruptive and life-threatening behavior, including attempting to open the aircraft exterior doors mid-flight,” US Attorney Trina Higgins of the District of Utah stated.
“Gapco is charged with interference with a flight crew, and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.”
The authorities have indicated that the case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
An American Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, Utah after a passenger, under the influence, tried to open the plane’s emergency door mid-flight and made inappropriate advances toward a flight attendant.
The incident took place on July 18 on flight 2101 en route to Dallas. Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, from Delanco, New Jersey, admitted to consuming ten marijuana edibles, according to a statement from the Utah district attorney released on Wednesday.
Gapco allegedly removed his shirt, began using a vape pen, refused to sit down, and assaulted crew members. A flight attendant ultimately restrained him by tying his hands and feet, leading the captain to divert the flight to Salt Lake City for an emergency landing.
In a video shared online, Gapco can be seen shouting “I am sane” as flight attendants attempt to calm him near the restroom.
Court documents reveal that he continued to act aggressively even after being arrested upon landing, damaging a glass door and spitting on a police officer.
“A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an alleged unruly passenger onboard an American Airlines flight after engaging in disruptive and life-threatening behavior, including attempting to open the aircraft exterior doors mid-flight,” US Attorney Trina Higgins of the District of Utah stated.
“Gapco is charged with interference with a flight crew, and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.”
The authorities have indicated that the case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
