A man has been arrested for allegedly committing violent and disruptive acts on a U.S. Airlines flight, including attempting to open a plane door mid-flight and attempting to have sex with a flight attendant, federal prosecutors said.
According to New York PostAccording to a criminal complaint, Eric Nicholas Gapko, 26, of New Jersey, was aboard American Airlines Flight 2101 from Seattle to Dallas on July 18 when he began exhibiting erratic behavior.
Gapko allegedly pulled up his shirt, vaped and propositioned a flight attendant, asking her for sex. Video footage obtained by KSLTV5 shows the man yelling and behaving aggressively while flight crew members were attempting to calm him down.
“I’m sane! I’m sane!” Gapko can be heard shouting in one video. He also yells, “He’s hurting me!” while a group gathers around the toilet he had locked himself in.
To subdue Gapko, the flight crew and passengers took matters into their own hands, binding his arms and legs with “flexible shackles.” A video shows a shirtless Gapko being led down the aisle with his hands tied.
The plane was diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport, where Gapko was arrested upon landing. He reportedly continued his disorderly behavior at the airport, breaking the glass door of a detention room.
In addition to initial charges of interfering with the flight crew and attempting to damage the plane, he also faces state charges of damaging a jail and assaulting an officer.
Prosecutors allege that Gapko consumed about 10 marijuana pills before the flight, and that he also attempted to distribute unknown pills to another passenger.
Gapco was indicted by a grand jury on July 31.