A plane operated by SkyWest Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing after a 23-year-old passenger, Mario Nikprelaj, shoved a flight attendant and threatened to kill him. The jet, bound for Detroit from Omaha, landed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, due to Nikprelaj’s unruly behavior. He was arrested by police and charged with several crimes, including assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, and unlawful possession of prescription medication.
The plane had 67 passengers and 4 crew members on board when it diverted midflight. A passenger described Nikprelaj as having erratic behavior from the beginning of the flight, standing up during takeoff and attempting to open an emergency exit door. The pilot announced that the plane would be diverting due to the unruly customer.
After landing, Nikprelaj was escorted off the plane by law enforcement officers, who took statements from passengers and crew. The plane remained grounded for over two hours while authorities investigated. Nikprelaj is currently being held on $10,000 bail and faces additional charges.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/us/flight-detroit-nebraska-iowa-man-arrested-assault.html