A Belgian man accused of assaulting a flight attendant, groping another and attempting to breach the cockpit of a Swiss International Airlines flight earlier this year has been arrested on multiple charges, the New Jersey Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Jan Daeninck, 43, is charged with one count each of assault, abusive sexual contact on an airplane, and interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault and intimidation, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release.
Daeninck appeared before a judge in Newark federal court on Monday and has since been released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, Sellinger said.
The incident occurred during a Swiss Airlines flight departing from Newark Liberty International Airport and headed to Zurich, Switzerland, on March 31.
Shortly after takeoff, Daeninck left his business class seat, walked toward a female flight attendant, grabbed her breasts with his hands, “shook her and began yelling at her,” according to the criminal complaint.
After the victim managed to wrest herself free, she called for help.
Daeninck then allegedly walked toward the front of the plane and tried to enter the cockpit, “repeatedly striking, kicking and beating the cockpit door,” prosecutors said.
When a male flight attendant approached Daeninck, he reacted by “repeatedly punching and kicking the flight attendant, striking him in [the] head and upper body with a closed fist.”
Other flight crew members intervened and managed to restrain Daeninck on the floor as the flight turned around and landed back at Newark Liberty.
According to the criminal complaint, the male flight attendant who was assaulted by Daeninck had to be taken to a hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. His condition wasn’t specified.
If convicted on all counts, Daeninck could be sentenced to up to 23 years in prison and pay fines of up to $600,000.