A New Jersey man really wanted to join the Mile High Club aboard a recent flight destined for Texas.
Delanco resident Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, was aboard a July 18 American Airlines flight from Seattle to Dallas when he allegedly started to act “unruly,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah.
After puffing away on a vape pen, Gapco allegedly ripped off his shirt, began yelling and tried to have sex with a flight attendant. The half-naked passenger also allegedly assaulted another flight attendant and tried multiple times to open the plane’s doors mid-flight.
Federal officials also stated Gapco tried to hand off a bag of unknown pills to another passenger. After refusing to take his seat, the unhinged man’s hands and feet wer restrained by flight staff as the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City.
Footage of Gapco being detained by flight attendants obtained by KSL News reportedly shows the man yelling “I am sane!” as staff try to calm him down near a bathroom.
Court documents noted while Gapco denied doing any illegal drugs, he later told an officer he consumed 10 marijuana edibles. The man was arrested at Salt Lake International Airport where he “continued to be belligerent,” fighting with medical staff and authorities while allegedly breaking a glass door and spitting on a cop.
The case is now being investigated by the Salt Lake City Police Department and the FBI.