The man who tried to open the emergency exit doors on a SkyWest flight from Nebraska to Detroit has been hit with a federal felony charge to go along with his state charges.
As we were the first to accurately report the 25-year-old suspect Mario Nikprelaj is a Michigan native with a criminal history dating back to 2020 in Macomb County.
According to federal documents Nikprelaj’s combative behavior on “De plane” ride began even before the flight took off in Omaha. Flight attendants notified the captain that Nikprelaj was being unruly. He was sitting in an exit row at the time and attendants said they were able to “satisfactorily control the situation.”
Mario’s good behavior wouldn’t last long though as shortly after the flight began its ascent Nikprelaj left his seat against the crew’s instructions and flipped off the flight attendants, but by the time the flight had hit 10,000 feet and he had returned to his seat and appeared to be falling asleep, according to the complaint.
Then, when the flight was about 20 miles outside of Cedar Rapids Mario, must have woken up from his nap because he attempted to open the planes emergency exit door and began fighting with other passengers.
The pilot made the decision at that time for the emergency landing in Cedar Rapids. Nikprelaj had begun fighting with one of the flight attendants, pushing them, grabbing their arms and threatening to kill them while they tried to stop him from opening the emergency door, the complaint states.
The pilot asked passengers to remain seated, except for those that were willing and able to help the flight attendants subdue Mario. Three passengers did just that until the plane landed.
Cedar Rapids police boarded the plane and arrested Nikprelaj. They found he was carrying Xanax pills hidden under his scrotum, according to the complaint.
He is now charged in federal court with interference with flight crew members and attendants which is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine.