Airline passenger charged for allegedly threatening pilot, cabin crew

A New Jersey airline passenger allegedly informed a flight attendant “I’ll actually break your f—– jaw n—-!” earlier than threatening a pilot “six inches from his face” after the aircraft he was touring on landed in Newark, federal prosecutors say. 

Luis Vaquero, 27, of Passaic County is now dealing with a federal cost following the “harrowing flight” Sunday from Miami, based on the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of New Jersey. 

Federal prosecutors say the alleged passenger meltdown started shortly after takeoff when Vaquero began “threatening and harassing varied passengers, together with making threats of bodily violence towards a disabled minor and mocking a gaggle of Jewish passengers. 

“Vaquero additionally threatened a flight crew member who declined to serve Vaquero alcohol after the beverage service window closed, telling her, “You higher be careful, s— is gonna occur to you,” the lawyer’s workplace stated. 

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Airplanes sit parked at gates at Terminal A at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport on Dec. 4, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Photographs)

“Upon touchdown at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport, flight attendants alerted regulation enforcement. After listening to the announcement that the airplane was awaiting the arrival of regulation enforcement, Vaquero compelled his strategy to the entrance of the aircraft and started banging on the flight deck door, demanding, “I would like the pilot to come back outdoors!” federal prosecutors stated. 

“When a flight attendant tried to intervene, Vaquero yelled, ‘I’ll actually break your f—– jaw n—-!’ Vaquero additionally yelled, ‘I wanna see that f—– captain! Come outdoors you b—- a– n—–!’ When the captain emerged, Vaquero continued to make threats to the captain whereas six inches from his face till regulation enforcement intervened,” they added. 

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Vacationers are seen on the Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport  forward of Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 2024. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

Vaquero was charged with one rely of interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation. 

He made an preliminary court docket look Monday earlier than being launched. If convicted, Vaquero faces a most sentence of 20 years in jail and a most wonderful of $250,000. 

“Over the course of a 3-hour flight, we allege Vaquero misplaced his mood and bodily harassed not solely the crew and captain, however passengers, making threats of bodily violence towards a disabled minor and mocking a gaggle of Jewish passengers,” Performing Particular Agent in Cost Terence Reilly stated in an announcement. 

A U.S. Customs and Border Safety signal is seen at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport in New Jersey. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs)

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“All of it culminated in a terrifying assault and tried breach of the flight deck when witnesses say he banged on the cockpit door and confronted the pilot,” Reilly added. “The harrowing flight and different comparable incidents onboard airplanes lately are creating stress and worry for fliers and crew members. FBI Newark has a warning for many who assume it might not be a giant deal — they’re breaking federal regulation, and they are going to be delivered to justice.”