Man Assaulted Staff, Tried To Breach Cockpit On Newark Flight: Feds

NEWARK, NJ — A resident of Belgium has been accused of trying to breach the cockpit of an airplane and assaulting flight attendants during an international flight from New Jersey to Switzerland, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Jan Daeninck, 43, of Belgium, was arrested in connection with an incident that took place aboard a flight from Newark Airport to Zurich, Switzerland in March 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors released the following allegations about the incident:

“On March 31, 2024, Daeninck was a passenger aboard a Swiss International Airlines flight from Newark to Zurich. Shortly after takeoff, Daeninck walked up to a female flight attendant, grabbed both of her breasts with his hands, shook her, and began yelling at her. 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.”

Here's what happened next, prosecutors

“While Daeninck was attempting to gain entrance to the cockpit, a male flight attendant approached [him]. After repeatedly striking, punching, and kicking the cockpit door and failing to gain entry to the cockpit, Daeninck assaulted the flight attendant by repeatedly punching and kicking [him], striking him in head and upper body with a closed fist.”

Flight crew members were able to jump in and help restrain Daeninck on the floor near the cockpit door for the remainder of the flight, prosecutors said.

As a result of Daeninck’s actions, the flight turned around and landed back at Newark Airport.

The injured flight attendant was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for his wounds, according to the criminal complaint.

Daeninck was charged 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 was released on $100,000 unsecured bond after a federal court appearance in Newark, prosecutors said.

If Daeninck is convicted, the charge of interfering with flight crew members and attendants carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The charge of assault by beating or striking carries a maximum punishment of one year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. The charge of abusive sexual contact carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, prosecutors said.

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