The New Jersey man reportedly consumed marijuana edibles before going berserk.
An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, Utah after an intoxicated traveller attempted to open the plane’s emergency door mid-flight and propositioned an air hostess for sex.
The incident occurred on July 18 aboard flight 2101 bound for Dallas. Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, of Delanco, New Jersey admitted to eating ten marijuana edibles before he started acting unruly, according to the Utah district attorney’s statement published on Wednesday.
Gapco reportedly pulled off his shirt and began puffing his vape pen, refusing to take his seat and assaulting crew members. He was later restrained by a flight attendant, who tied his hands and feet while the captain diverted the aircraft to Salt Lake City and made an emergency landing.
In a video posted online, Gapco is seen shouting “I am sane” as flight attendants try to calm him near the restroom.
According to court documents, he continued to act belligerently after being arrested upon landing, breaking 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 said.
“Gapco is charged with interference with a flight crew, and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.”
According to the authorities, the case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and Salt Lake City Police Department.
