Passenger Attacked Crew Aboard Newark Flight, Sentenced To Prison

NEWARK, NJ — A resident of Belgium has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after he assaulted flight attendants aboard a flight from Newark to Switzerland two years ago, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Jan Daeninck, 43, of Belgium, previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a flight attendant by beating, wounding or striking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Here’s what happened, prosecutors said:

"On March 31, 2024, Daeninck was a passenger aboard a Swiss International Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey to Zurich, Switzerland. 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, threatening to kill her. After the flight attendant was able to get away from Daeninck, he tried to get into the cockpit by kicking and beating the door. Then, when a male flight attendant approached Daeninck, he assaulted him by punching and kicking the flight attendant, striking him in head and upper body with a closed fist."

Flight crew members were able to intervene and restrain Daeninck on the floor near the cockpit door for the rest of the flight, prosecutors said.

As a result, the flight turned around and landed back at Newark Liberty International Airport.

On June 1, Daeninck was sentenced to 10 months in prison and one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay over $73,000 in restitution, prosecutors said.

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