SkyWest flight diverted after passenger tries to open emergency door, fights with flight attendant: report
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A SkyWest flight was diverted to Iowa after a passenger onboard tried to open the emergency exit and got into a fight with a flight attendant, reports said. 

Mario Nikprelaj, 23, from Nebraska, was taken into custody Thursday at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids following the “in-air disturbance,” the Cedar Rapids Police Department said.  

“Got diverted to Cedar Rapids because this guy decided to try and open the exit row door then fight the flight crew and other passengers,” a traveler who purportedly was on the plane wrote on X, sharing a video showing law enforcement removing a man from the aircraft. 

The pilot of Delta Air Lines 3612 – which was being operated as SkyWest Flight 3612 — was also heard saying on air traffic control audio that a passenger onboard was “in a fight with a flight attendant right now, trying to open the emergency exit,” according to ABC News. 

Delta jet at Utah airport

A Delta Connection (Skywest Airlines) Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet taxis to the gate on a rainy day in November 2015 at Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah. A SkyWest flight from Omaha, Nebraska to Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, July 17 was diverted following an “in-air disturbance,” police said. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

Both SkyWest and the Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday from Fox News Digital. 

Police in Cedar Rapids said Nikprelaj was transferred to the Linn County Correctional Center and was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and first-degree harassment, among other charges. 

SkyWest Airlines flight in Denver

Passengers board a SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ-100 passenger plane at Denver International Airport on Sept. 7, 2016.  (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

“Further charges are possible pending further investigation,” it also said. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Migrant truckers sue California DMV over canceled commercial drivers' licenses

Migrant Truckers Challenge California DMV in Lawsuit Over Revoked Commercial Licenses

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is currently embroiled in a…
How tribesmen were caged alongside animals in Europe's human zoos

Unveiling the Dark History: Europe’s Human Zoos and the Shocking Fate of Tribesmen

In the heart of Madrid’s Retiro Park, individuals were confined within enclosures…
Lamar Jackson may miss Packers game after bombshell report

Lamar Jackson’s Unexpected Absence: What the Latest Report Means for Ravens vs. Packers Showdown

Lamar Jackson’s participation in the Baltimore Ravens’ upcoming game against the Green…
Zelenskyy encouraged by 'very good' Christmas talks with US

Zelenskyy Hails Progress in ‘Very Good’ Christmas Discussions with US: Strengthening Ukraine-US Relations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced optimism on Thursday regarding the advancement of…
Christmas Eve 2025: Chicago holiday shopping on Magnificent Mile, Christkindlmarket packed

Unwrap the Magic: Christmas Eve 2025 Shopping Extravaganza on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and Christkindlmarket!

CHICAGO (WLS) — The festive cheer was palpable across Chicago on Christmas…
Factory boss gives 540 employees six-figure Christmas bonuses

Generous Factory Boss Surprises 540 Employees with Six-Figure Christmas Bonuses

Over 500 employees at a Louisiana manufacturing plant received substantial bonuses, amounting…
California braces SECOND life-threatening wave of flash floods

California Faces Unprecedented Second Wave of Devastating Flash Floods: What You Need to Know

Residents of California are preparing for another wave of dangerous flooding as…
Trump says US struck Islamic State targets in Nigeria after group targeted Christians

US Launches Strikes on ISIS in Nigeria Following Attacks on Christian Communities, Announces Trump

President Donald Trump has announced the execution of a “powerful and deadly…