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A man who allegedly stabbed another passenger throughout a flight with a makeshift weapon made out of pens and rubber bands has been charged with assault with a harmful weapon.
Julio Alvares Lopez informed authorities he supposed to kill the sufferer in an incident on 24 January throughout an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Las Vegas, in response to courtroom paperwork.
The sufferer was recognized as a sworn legislation enforcement officer who was throughout the airplane aisle from Mr Lopez.
A witness mentioned that Mr Lopez started to behave “fidgety” in the course of the flight. Around half-hour earlier than touchdown, Mr Lopez bought up from his seat and went to the toilet, and upon return, he started punching and hitting the sufferer, the paperwork mentioned.
The witness and the sufferer’s spouse screamed at Mr Lopez to cease.
The witness mentioned, “There was blood everywhere”, and claimed that Mr Lopez dropped one thing that gave the impression to be a “pen and tape bundle.”
The sufferer’s spouse was additionally struck in the course of the altercation as she shielded her younger son who’s round seven years previous, the courtroom data added.
He was restrained with flex cuffs for the rest of the flight and was taken into custody by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as soon as the aircraft got here into land.
Speaking to authorities after the incident, Mr Lopez, who said he was searching for asylum within the United States, mentioned he felt the mafia had been chasing him for the previous few months, the courtroom paperwork said.
Lopez mentioned to authorities that he had by no means seen the sufferer earlier than the flight however thought that the sufferer was following him, believing he was the cartel.
He admitted that he armed himself with pens wrapped in rubber bands and said, “I planned on attacking and killing him.”
He also admitted to FBI agents that he intended to kill the victim and had created the weapon before the flight. Mr Lopez said he was trying to stab the victim in the eye to reach his brain, the court documents said.
Alaska Airlines said in a statement to NBC7 that the incident occurred on flight 604 as the plane was coming in to land at Harry Reid International Airport.
“The plane landed safely, and legislation enforcement took one passenger into custody after the aircraft arrived on the gate. We’re grateful for our crew for his or her professionalism within the dealing with of the incident,” the airline mentioned.
The suspect is being held in custody till trial and his arraignment is scheduled for 1 March.
The Independent has contacted Alaska Airlines for remark.
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