An unruly passenger forced a New York City-to-California flight to make an unscheduled stop at Salt Lake City International Airport late Monday after he drank several beers and boasted that he had shot people in Lebanon.
Shalom Yarimo, 50, was aboard a JetBlue flight from JFK International Airport in New York City to Burbank, Calif., when he began behaving erratically, according to the FBI.
At 10:01 p.m. Monday, Salt Lake City International Airport took a call from the JetBlue flight requesting assistance with the man, said airport spokeswoman Barbara Gann.
Timothy Fuhrman, FBI special agent in charge of the case, said Yarimo was an "intoxicated passenger who caused a disruption."
Charging documents filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City said Yarimo drank as many as four alcoholic beverages, became ill and began vomiting in a restroom at the front of the plane. He then returned to his seat and requested another beer but was denied. Yarimo allegedly stated twice that when he was in Lebanon he shot people. He then began walking through the plane's cabin, opening and slamming overhead storage compartments and flushing toilets.
The plane landed at 10:45 p.m., and officers removed him from the plane. He was identified, interviewed, arrested and booked into the Salt Lake Adult Detention Center, according to the FBI.
All 130 passengers deplaned while dog teams swept the aircraft. Passengers waited about 90 minutes to get new tickets, be re-screened and reboard the flight.
The federal criminal complaint against Yarimo charges him with assaulting and intimidating flight attendants and crew members, and interfering with their ability to perform their duties.
He is believed to be in the U.S. illegally, according to the FBI. Based on immigration records, the FBI said he had previously been ordered deported from the United States. Yarimo claims to be an Israeli citizen with a pending application for U.S. citizenship. He is scheduled for an initial court appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Nuffer. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
