Ikenna Ikokwu, 30, of Atlanta, is accused in a federal complaint of abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, and faces up to three years in prison.

In other incidents involving Salt Lake City flights, passengers on separate New Year's Day flights are accused of interfering with the planes' crews.

A report on the alleged groping incident says a 21-year-old woman was covered by a blanket and asleep Tuesday on a SkyWest flight when she awoke to a hand touching her breast. She was groped twice more from the seat behind her.

After the plane landed, the woman reported the incident and Salt Lake City International Airport police found Ikokwu as he was preparing to catch a connecting flight.

In the other incidents, two airline passengers are charged with disrupting separate flights to Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Caleb Parker, 28, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, exhibited "weird" behavior on a Continental Airlines flight, allegedly ignoring orders to stop screaming and trying to open an aircraft door once the plane had landed.

And Sue-Betty Owens, 64, of Kalispell, Mont., is accused of refusing to stow a large handbag before takeoff and of throwing the purse at a flight attendant when the request was repeated. Her plane returned to the gate at Salt Lake City International and she was removed from the SkyWest Airlines flight.

Parker and Owens are each charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and could face up to 20 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.

Owens, who was not arrested, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury.

Prosecutors filed a complaint against Parker, who was arrested. On Wednesday, a magistrate in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City ordered a psychological evaluation of Parker.

As the Continental plane was nearing its final approach to Salt Lake City, Parker locked himself in the restroom and began screaming and ranting incoherently, according to FBI agent Ian D. Smythe. Parker allegedly resisted orders to return to his seat until just before the aircraft touched down.

When the plane landed, Parker left his seat again and tried to open one of the exterior doors. He then began beating on the cockpit door and screaming at the flight crew, according to Smythe.

Police officers arrested Parker on the plane.

pmanson@sltrib.com