A routine flight from Detroit to Omaha turned into a mid-air emergency when a passenger allegedly threatened a flight attendant and tried to open the plane’s emergency exit door. The incident happened aboard SkyWest Flight 612 on July 17, forcing the aircraft to make an unscheduled landing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The suspect, 23-year-old Mario Nikprelaj, reportedly shoved a flight attendant and issued threats to kill before lunging for the emergency exit during the flight’s beverage service. Fellow passenger Jonathan Spencer Van der Waarden said Nikprelaj had been behaving erratically from takeoff—standing up before it was safe and refusing to stay seated.
With 67 passengers and four crew members onboard, the flight crew acted swiftly. Pilots safely diverted the aircraft to Cedar Rapids, where law enforcement arrested Nikprelaj. A video captured the moment police escorted him off the plane. According to jail records, he remains in federal custody and is expected to appear in court next week.
Authorities say Nikprelaj was carrying 41 unprescribed pills of Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) without a proper tax stamp. He’s facing multiple charges, including assault, harassment, unlawful drug possession, and disorderly conduct—though more charges may be pending.
SkyWest Airlines released a statement confirming the incident, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior. “The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority,” the airline said.
The FBI has launched an investigation and is reviewing Nikprelaj’s background. “The FBI takes threats to aviation seriously,” the agency said, vowing to work with airline partners to protect the public.
The flight eventually resumed and completed its journey to Omaha after the disruption.
