Unruly passenger from New Jersey wreaked havoc on American Airlines flight: Feds
He's also accused of spitting on an officer and allegedly admitted to eating 10 marijuana edibles.
SALT LAKE CITY (WPVI) -- An unruly passenger from Burlington County, New Jersey, is facing charges after investigators say he engaged in disruptive, life-threatening behavior while on an American Airlines flight.
It happened back on July 18 on the Seattle-Dallas American Airlines flight #2101.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah, the flight had to be diverted to Salt Lake City after Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, of Delanco, NJ, assaulted and intimidated a flight attendant and aircraft crew members.
Gapco allegedly refused to stay seated, propositioned a flight attendant for sex, vaped on the aircraft, and even attempted to open the plane's exterior door multiple times on the flight, authorities said.
In addition to allegedly being loud and bothersome to other passengers, authorities say Gapco locked himself in the bathroom before he was restrained by the flight crew.
Incidents involving unruly passengers spiked in 2021, with nearly 6,000, according to the FAA.
And while incidents have dropped in recent years, they remain above pre-pandemic levels.
Gapco was arrested at the Salt Lake City International Airport.
He is being charged with interference with a flight crew and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
Jeff Barton is neighbors with Gapco. He says he's upset watching the video.
"How one's mind gets to that place," he questioned.
During the arrest, Gapco allegedly became combative and broke the glass door of a holding cell at the airport operations center. He's also accused of spitting on an officer and allegedly admitted to eating 10 marijuana edibles.
"Shame on him for not knowing the proper amount to use," said Barton.
Gapco made an initial appearance on August 1 in Salt Lake City where he pleaded not guilty. He's due back in court on August 7.
