Man charged with assault, trying to breach cockpit on flight out of Newark

A Belgian antheral accused of assaulting a formation attendant, groping different and attempting to breach the cockpit of a Swiss International Airlines flight earlier this twelvemonth has been arrested connected aggregate charges, the New Jersey Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

Jan Daeninck, 43, is charged with 1 number each of assault, abusive intersexual interaction connected an airplane, and interference with formation unit members and attendants by battle and intimidation, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said successful a quality release.

Daeninck appeared earlier a justice successful Newark national tribunal connected Monday and has since been released connected a $100,000 unsecured bond, Sellinger said.

The incidental occurred during a Swiss Airlines formation departing from Newark Liberty International Airport and headed to Zurich, Switzerland, connected March 31.

Shortly aft takeoff, Daeninck near his concern people seat, walked toward a pistillate formation attendant, grabbed her breasts with his hands, “shook her and began yelling astatine her,” according to the transgression complaint.

After the unfortunate managed to wrest herself free, she called for help.

Daeninck past allegedly walked toward the beforehand of the level and tried to participate the cockpit, “repeatedly striking, kicking and beating the cockpit door,” prosecutors said.

When a antheral formation attendant approached Daeninck, helium reacted by “repeatedly punching and kicking the formation attendant, striking him successful [the] caput and precocious assemblage with a closed fist.”

Other formation unit members intervened and managed to restrain Daeninck connected the level arsenic the flight turned around and landed backmost astatine Newark Liberty.

According to the transgression complaint, the antheral formation attendant who was assaulted by Daeninck had to beryllium taken to a infirmary to person attraction for his injuries. His information wasn’t specified.

If convicted connected each counts, Daeninck could beryllium sentenced to up to 23 years successful situation and wage fines of up to $600,000.