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Jan Daeninck, 43, was a passenger aboard a Swiss International Airlines flight on March 31 when, shortly after takeoff, he walked up to a female flight attendant, grabbed both of her breasts with his hands, shook her, and began yelling at her, according to witnesses and statements made in court.
After the flight attendant was able to wrest herself away from Daeninck, he then approached and attempted to enter the cockpit, repeatedly striking, kicking and beating the cockpit door, federal officials said. While Daeninck was trying to get into the cockpit, a male flight attendant approached Daeninck.
Daeninck repeatedly punched and kicked him, hitting him in head and upper body with a closed fist. Flight crew members were able to intervene and assist with restraining Daeninck on the floor in the vicinity of the cockpit door for the remainder of the flight. As a result of Daeninck’s actions, the flight turned around and landed back at Newark Liberty International Airport, according to federal paperwork.
Daeninck was charged by complaint with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault and intimidation, one count of assault, and one count of abusive sexual contact on an airplane.
He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Edward T. Cetnar, for its assistance.
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