A federal grand jury indicted a New Jersey man after both the crew and passengers on an American Airlines flight claimed he attempted to open the plane’s doors in midair.
According to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 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, vaped, bothered other passengers, locked himself in the lavatory, and attempted to open the aircraft exterior doors multiple times while in flight.”
Gapco was a passenger on American Airlines Flight #2101, which flew from Seattle to Dallas on Thursday, July 18.
According to local Utah outlet KSL-TV, videos shot throughout the trip show Gapco shouting strange remarks to the rest of the passengers, such as “I am sane” and “I do not want to hurt myself.”
“As a result, Gapco was restrained by flight crew members and other passengers with flexible restraints to his feet and hands during the flight,” according to the office’s statement.
The flight was eventually redirected to Salt Lake City International Airport, and video footage acquired by CBS News and KSL-TV showed Gapco being brought off the plane by Utah law officials while shirtless and with bright yellow handcuffs around his ankles and wrists.
As law enforcement agents attempt to control him, he can be heard saying “I need to go to a hospital”. Videos also show Gapco exclaiming “You say potato, I say po-tah-to” and proclaiming his name as he walks down the plane aisle with officers.
According to court documents acquired by KSL-TV, the man informed the Utah officers who arrested him that he had eaten roughly ten cannabis edibles “and that he was not sure of the THC milligrams content for each of the edibles.”
The docs also state that he “continued to engage in violent and erratic behavior after being arrested upon landing in Salt Lake City,” according to CBS.
According to Trina A. Higgins, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, Gapco has been charged with “interference with a flight crew” and “attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.” According to local arrest records, Utah officials have also accused Gapco of throwing a substance (such as blood, urine, fecal material, or saliva) at an officer, causing damage to a jail or other place of confinement, engaging in disorderly conduct, and other charges.
“The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department,” the US Attorney’s Office stated.
According to the news release, Gapco was scheduled to appear in court for the indictment on Thursday, August 1, in the United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City.