Overview

• The diversion occurred on July 17 when Mario Nikprelaj tried to open an emergency exit and fought with a flight attendant about an hour into Delta Connection Flight 3612 from Omaha to Detroit.
• Cedar Rapids police met the jet at Eastern Iowa Airport and arrested Nikprelaj on charges including disorderly conduct, assault, unlawful possession of prescription medication, tax stamp violation and first-degree harassment.
• At his initial court appearance, a judge set Nikprelaj’s bond at $10,000 with a no-contact order and he remains held at the Linn County Correctional Center.
• SkyWest Airlines resumed the flight without further incident and the aircraft arrived in Detroit roughly two hours behind schedule.
• The FAA has logged over 870 unruly passenger reports this year and carriers are reinforcing zero-tolerance policies to safeguard crew and passenger safety.