SkyWest Airlines flight diverted over 'disturbance', passenger arrested
A SkyWest Airlines flight is diverted, and a Nebraska man is facing disorderly conduct and other charges, authorities say.
Cedar Rapids police have identified the man as 23-year-old Mario Nikprelaj.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement on July 18 that SkyWest Airlines Flight 3612 took off from Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska and was headed to Detroit Metro Airport in Michigan when the incident occurred.
SkyWest Airlines said in a statement to Paste BN on July 18 that the man was an "unruly customer."
"That customer was detained by local police and the flight continued to Detroit shortly after," the airline said. "SkyWest has zero tolerance for unruly behavior as safety for our customers and crew is our top priority."
It was not immediately clear whether Nikprelaj had retained a lawyer.
Here’s what we know about what happened on the SkyWest flight.
Passenger shares video, takes to social media to detail experience
According to Storyful, Jonathan Spencer Van der Waarden was a passenger on the flight. He shared footage that showed the man being escorted off the flight.
“Safe travels out there folks,” wrote Waarden in a post on X . “Got diverted to Cedar Rapids because this guy decided to try and open the exit row door then fight the flight crew and other passengers,” the post read.
When responding to other social media users, Waarden detailed what happened on the flight and said the man was seated in the emergency exit row and "refused to follow basic safety protocols." He ignored the flight attendant's instructions and became "verbally aggressive,” he wrote.
As the plane was turning onto the runway, he stood up and unbuckled his seatbelt, and once the plane was in the air, passengers started yelling and hitting call buttons because he was "trying to open the cabin door midflight," the post read.
"We were grounded for over 2 hours while police took statements from crew and passengers, then we refueled and finally continued to Detroit," Waarden continued. "Huge credit to the flight attendants, the pilot, and every passenger who stepped up."
Flight was diverted to Cedar Rapids, man could face more charges
According to the Cedar Rapids Police Department, authorities were called to the Eastern Iowa Airport around 6:13 p.m. about an “in-air disturbance.” The flight diverted to Cedar Rapids.
Nikprela was taken to the Linn County Correctional Center and charged with disorderly conduct, assault, possession of prescription medication, first-degree harassment, and violating tax stamp laws, or the failure to affix the required stamp to the illegal drugs.
Police said he was arrested in Cedar Rapids and he could face more charges.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.