Passenger charged after threatening flight attendants, banging on cockpit door
A New Jersey man was charged with threatening flight passengers, attendants and crew members on a flight from Miami, Florida, to Newark, New Jersey.
According to the complaint, Luis Vaquero made "threats of physical violence against a disabled minor and mocking a group of Jewish passengers."
It said that he also threatened a flight attendant when they refused to serve him more alcohol.
MORE: American Airlines flight delayed by suspected bomb threat
When the plane arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, the captain made an announcement that law enforcement would be removing a passenger, according to the complaint.
It said that Vaquero then left his seat and began banging on the flight deck door and cursing at the captain while the plane was taxiing.
When the plane arrived at the gate, the complaint said the captain emerged from the flight deck and Vaquero approached him, screaming in his face and threatening him until law enforcement officers boarded the plane and escorted Vaquero off.
MORE: Recent plane crashes induce anxiety for many travelers
"The defendant is charged with threatening flight crew members and passengers while traveling to Newark," Acting United States Attorney Vikas Khanna said in a press release. "We are committed to keeping the skies safe for flying and will prosecute those who criminally interfere with the professionals responsible for ensuring passenger safety."
"It all culminated in a terrifying attack and attempted breach of the flight deck when witnesses say he banged on the cockpit door and confronted the pilot," Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly said in the release.
"The harrowing flight and other similar incidents onboard airplanes recently are creating tension and fear for fliers and crew members," Reilly added. "FBI Newark has a warning for those who think it may not be a big deal—they're breaking federal law, and they will be brought to justice."
Passenger charged after threatening flight attendants, banging on cockpit door originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Israel targeted high-rise with incredible precision to take out top nuclear scientists in Tehran, photos show
Israel obliterated top Iranian nuclear scientists with incredible precision, according to stunning new photos showing single apartments blown out of Tehran high-rises. Aftermath pictures of the air strikes in the Shahid Mahallati neighborhood — known for housing military leaders and nuclear masterminds of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard — show just three floors bombed out and the rest of the residence undisturbed. 4 The bombed-out apartment in the Iranian high-rise is a residence supposedly known to be associated with Iranian Revolutionary Guard top brass. via REUTERS Advertisement Another photo showed a precise hole through the side of a building — again destroying just one apartment. Nearby buildings in the densely packed neighborhood appear to be remarkably unaffected by the missile strike. 4 Photos show the immediate aftermath of the precision missile strike. Sepahnews via ZUMA Press Wire / Advertisement It was not immediately clear which of the Iranian leaders were killed in the incredibly accurate strike but Iranian state media confirmed at least 20 key military and nuclear science officials were taken out during Israel's preemptive strike Thursday. Gen. Hossein Salami, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, and Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid were the IRGC leaders killed in Thursday's historic attack, the largest ever Israel has launched against Iran. 4 Merrill Sherman / NY Post Design 4 Israel targeted locations throughout Iran on Thursday in a sweeping preemptive strike dubbed Operation: Rising Lion. AP Advertisement Nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi, Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and four others were also killed. The Jewish state also targeted numerous key locations of Iran's nuclear program in the Thursday onslaught, which continued late into Friday night.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-con used AI to make bombs, threw 2 in river, left 1 on NYC bridge, documents say
NEW YORK — An ex-con used artificial intelligence to build several explosive devices but then got cold feet, apparently tossing two of them in the East River, with another found ditched on the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks and a fourth one in the bag he was carrying when the FBI arrested him in Manhattan, according to federal court documents and a law enforcement official. Shotgun shells and explosive materials were also found in a dumpster in Chelsea, the documents said. The suspect, Michael Gann, who is in his 50s, was arrested last Thursday and charged in Manhattan Federal Court with unlawful possession of a destructive device and transportation of explosive materials. The official described him as emotionally disturbed and said it wasn't clear what prompted him to build the devices. The documents, however, described Gann a day before his arrest mixing explosives in the presence of a military veteran, one of two witnesses in the case. 'What kind of veteran are you?' Gann is quoted saying. 'You see a problem in the neighborhood and you do nothing about it?' Gann then pointed to a nearby Jewish school, the documents say. The location of the school was not revealed but the documents indicate Gann, after using AI and watching online videos, ordered materials — including perchlorates, which are industrial chemicals used in rockets and fireworks, that he sent to an address in Inwood, in Nassau County. The law enforcement official said Gann had been staying with someone in Inwood and that authorities were tipped by someone with whom he had spoken. When Gann was arrested, he was carrying a shoulder bag that he said he was going to drop off with the FDNY, the documents said. He also urged the agents not to light a match near the bag 'because there could be a big fireball.' Gann had twice previously tested the chemicals, the documents said, each time creating a small explosion, the second one blinding the veteran for about 20 seconds, Inside the bag was a homemade explosive device, binoculars, a pocketknife and a torch lighter. The documents said that Gann, shortly before his arrest, called the supplier from whom he bought the chemicals and asked if he could return them. The supplier denied the request and suggested Gann put them in water or throw them away. Gann has about 30 previous arrests and three felony convictions, the documents said. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-con used AI to make bombs, threw 2 in river, left 1 on NYC bridge, documents say
NEW YORK — An ex-con used artificial intelligence to build several explosive devices but then got cold feet, apparently tossing two of them in the East River, with another found ditched on the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks and a fourth one in the bag he was carrying when the FBI arrested him in Manhattan, according to federal court documents and a law enforcement official. Shotgun shells and explosive materials were also found in a dumpster in Chelsea, the documents said. The suspect, Michael Gann, who is in his 50s, was arrested last Thursday and charged in Manhattan Federal Court with unlawful possession of a destructive device and transportation of explosive materials. The official described him as emotionally disturbed and said it wasn't clear what prompted him to build the devices. The documents, however, described Gann a day before his arrest mixing explosives in the presence of a military veteran, one of two witnesses in the case. 'What kind of veteran are you?' Gann is quoted saying. 'You see a problem in the neighborhood and you do nothing about it?' Gann then pointed to a nearby Jewish school, the documents say. The location of the school was not revealed but the documents indicate Gann, after using AI and watching online videos, ordered materials — including perchlorates, which are industrial chemicals used in rockets and fireworks, that he sent to an address in Inwood, in Nassau County. The law enforcement official said Gann had been staying with someone in Inwood and that authorities were tipped by someone with whom he had spoken. When Gann was arrested, he was carrying a shoulder bag that he said he was going to drop off with the FDNY, the documents said. He also urged the agents not to light a match near the bag 'because there could be a big fireball.' Gann had twice previously tested the chemicals, the documents said, each time creating a small explosion, the second one blinding the veteran for about 20 seconds, Inside the bag was a homemade explosive device, binoculars, a pocketknife and a torch lighter. The documents said that Gann, shortly before his arrest, called the supplier from whom he bought the chemicals and asked if he could return them. The supplier denied the request and suggested Gann put them in water or throw them away. Gann has about 30 previous arrests and three felony convictions, the documents said. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
