Alexandria Man Indicted In Flight Misconduct Incident

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A grand jury indicted an Alexandria man Wednesday in relation to alleged misconduct on a December 2021 flight.

According to the indictment, Elias Fethamlk, 40, interfered with a flight attendant's duties by disregarding instructions on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Dublin, Ireland to Dulles International Airport on Dec. 2, 2021. The indictment also says Fethamlk assaulted the flight attendant.

According to an affidavit from an FBI agent, the incident started when Fethamlk requested wine from a flight attendant. The flight attendant advised Fethamlk the plane was in descent to Dulles International Airport and asked him to return to his seat and prepare for landing. The affidavit claims Fethamlk got angry, insulted the flight attendant and attempted to take a picture of the flight attendant. The flight attendant had been activating a video with passenger information on landing. As the flight attendant covered her face when Fethamlk was taking the picture, the affidavit claims Fethamlk grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the cabin entry door.

The pilot in command requested Fethamlk return to his seat, and he complied. When the plane landed, Fethamlk was detained by Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority police.

Fethamlk is charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants and one count of simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

In another indictment returned in Alexandria federal court, a New York City man was charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a flight. According to the indictment, Ivan Lopez, Jr., 26, of New York City, sexually assaulted another passenger on a flight from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to Dulles International Airport.

According to court documents, a passenger was asleep and woke up to Lopez rubbing her right breast repeatedly. The indictment alleges the passenger observed Lopez leaning over her and touching her right breast. When the passenger yelled at him, Lopez moved to the back of the aircraft and allegedly admitted the sexual assault to a flight attendant.

Lopez was charged with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft in flight. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.