Eric Nicholas Gapco, a 26-year-old from Delanco, New Jersey, caused a disturbance on American Airlines flight 2101 from Seattle to Dallas on July 18, leading to an emergency landing in Utah, according to federal authorities who arrested him.
Gapco, who later admitted to consuming 10 marijuana edibles before the incident, began acting erratically during the flight.He removed his shirt, used a vape pen, shouted, and made sexual advances towards a flight attendant, authorities and reports said.
The disruptive passenger also allegedly assaulted a crew member and attempted to open the plane’s exterior doors “multiple times,” as per federal officials.
Video footage obtained by KSLTV allegedly shows a shirtless Gapco yelling “I am sane!” as flight attendants attempt to pacify him near the aircraft’s restroom. When he refused to return to his seat, crew members restrained his hands and feet, while the captain made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City.
During the flight, Gapco also allegedly tried to give another passenger a bag containing unidentified pills, according to prosecutors.
Upon landing at Salt Lake City International Airport, Gapco was arrested. During the arrest, he allegedly broke a glass door and spat on an officer, as stated by prosecutors.
The incident is currently under investigation by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department. In a motion for his detention, prosecutors noted that Gapco “continued to be belligerent” and “combative with medical staff and the police.”
Gapco, who later admitted to consuming 10 marijuana edibles before the incident, began acting erratically during the flight.He removed his shirt, used a vape pen, shouted, and made sexual advances towards a flight attendant, authorities and reports said.
The disruptive passenger also allegedly assaulted a crew member and attempted to open the plane’s exterior doors “multiple times,” as per federal officials.
Video footage obtained by KSLTV allegedly shows a shirtless Gapco yelling “I am sane!” as flight attendants attempt to pacify him near the aircraft’s restroom. When he refused to return to his seat, crew members restrained his hands and feet, while the captain made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City.
During the flight, Gapco also allegedly tried to give another passenger a bag containing unidentified pills, according to prosecutors.
Upon landing at Salt Lake City International Airport, Gapco was arrested. During the arrest, he allegedly broke a glass door and spat on an officer, as stated by prosecutors.
The incident is currently under investigation by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department. In a motion for his detention, prosecutors noted that Gapco “continued to be belligerent” and “combative with medical staff and the police.”
