An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, Utah, after an intoxicated passenger tried to open the plane’s emergency door mid-flight and propositioned a flight attendant for sex.
The incident occurred July 18 aboard Flight 2101 bound for Dallas. Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, of Delanco, New Jersey, admitted to eating 10 marijuana edibles before he began acting unruly, according to a statement from the Utah district attorney released Wednesday.
Gapco allegedly took off his shirt and began smoking his vape pen, refusing to sit down and assaulting crew members. He was later restrained by a flight attendant, who tied his hands and feet while the captain diverted the plane to Salt Lake City and made an emergency landing.
In a video posted online, Gapco is seen shouting “I am healthy” as flight attendants try to calm him down near the bathroom.
According to court documents, he continued to act belligerently after being arrested upon landing, breaking a glass door and spitting at an officer.
“A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against an alleged unruly passenger aboard an American Airlines flight after engaging in disruptive and life-threatening behavior, including attempting to open the aircraft’s exterior doors during flight,” U.S. Attorney Trina Higgins of the District of Utah said.
“Gapco is charged with interfering with a flight crew and attempting to damage an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.”
According to authorities, the case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department.
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