by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:20 AM ET, Tue February 11, 2025
A New Jersey man was arrested by police and charged with threatening
flight attendants, passengers, and crew members on a flight from Miami on
Sunday.
According to ABCNews.com,
a male passenger named Luis Vaquero allegedly threatened a flight attendant
after the employee refused to serve him more alcohol. Vaquero then threatened
violence “against a disabled minor” and mocked “a group of Jewish passengers.”
"The defendant is charged with threatening flight crew
members and passengers while traveling to Newark," Acting United States
Attorney Vikas Khanna said. "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."
The captain of the flight from Miami, Florida, to Newark,
New Jersey, announced that the aircraft would be met by police upon landing,
which caused Vaquero to leave his seat and begin banging on the flight deck
door while the aircraft was taxiing.
Once the captain left the cockpit, Vaquero reportedly
screamed in his face, using vulgar language and threats of violence, until law
enforcement officers boarded the plane and escorted the allegedly drunk man
off.
"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."
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