Isai RochaA suspect is facing federal charges after attempting to breach the cockpit of a departing LAX flight then jumping off the plane’s emergency exit.
Luis Antonio Victoria Dominguez, 33, of La Paz, Mexico, was on a United Airlines flight on June 25, flying from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.
In his attempt to enter the cockpit, Dominguez sprinted toward the front of the plane, then started banging and attempting to open the locked door, according to the FBI’s affidavit.
Dominguez was unsuccessful in his attempt at entering the cockpit and then ran toward the emergency door on the right side of the plane. Dominguez managed to partially open the door, triggering the emergency slide to only deploy partially.
Passengers unsuccessfully attempted to restrain Dominguez who jumped off the plane and suffered an apparent leg injury.
“Once Victoria Dominguez landed on the tarmac, he began crawling away from the aircraft. His right leg appeared broken,” the FBI’s affidavit said.
There was a separate attempt to breach the cockpit of a Delta flight leaving LAX earlier this month, as a man was arrested on June 4 after a failed breach. The flight was already airborne, headed to Nashville and flight attendants were able to apprehend the man, forcing an emergency landing in Albuquerque.
The official charge Dominguez faces is interference with flight crew members and attendants, and carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
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