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SALT LAKE CITY — A New Jersey man who police say attempted to open exterior plane doors multiple times while on an American Airlines flight is now charged in both federal and Utah state court.
Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, is charged with interference with a flight crew and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the U.S.
A press release said a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him on Wednesday. It said he engaged "in disruptive and life-threatening behavior" during a flight from Seattle, Washington, to Dallas, Texas.
The flight was diverted to the airport in Salt Lake City around 11 p.m. on July 18.
A complaint filed in federal court shortly after the incident said in addition to attempting to open exterior doors, Gapco assaulted and intimidated a flight attendant and members of the crew, did not follow the instructions to stay in his seat, propositioned a flight attendant, vaped, screamed and bothered other passengers.
He was restrained while on the flight by crew members and other passengers and was arrested after landing in Salt Lake City, the document said.
Gapco, of New Jersey, was also charged in Utah's 3rd District Court in connection to his alleged behavior after landing at the airport.
A booking affidavit said he broke the glass of the airport's holding cell, and after being taken to the hospital for evaluation he "continuously screamed at nurses, doctors and anyone he could, using several obscenities."
The officer who wrote the affidavit also said Gapco spit in his face.
He was charged with damaging a jail or place of confinement and propelling something at an officer's face, both third-degree felonies, in addition to disorderly conduct after being asked to cease, a class C misdemeanor.
Gapco, who was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, is scheduled for an initial appearance in the Salt Lake City court on Aug. 22. He will appear in the U.S. District Courthouse in Salt Lake City on Thursday for an initial appearance in his federal case.
