New jersey man arrested for threatening flight crew, attempting to breach cockpit

New Jersey man arrested for threatening flight crew, attempting to breach cockpit

Posted by
1 min read
February 11, 2025

NEWARK, NJ — A Passaic County man was arrested for threatening flight attendants, harassing passengers, and attempting to breach the cockpit during a flight from Miami to Newark, federal authorities announced.

Luis A. Vaquero, 27, was charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation. He appeared in Newark federal court before Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams and was released.

According to court documents, Vaquero began making threats shortly after takeoff on February 9, 2025, including threatening a disabled minor and mocking Jewish passengers. When a flight attendant refused to serve him alcohol, he allegedly warned her, “You better watch out, shit’s gonna happen to you.”

Upon landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, Vaquero forced his way to the front of the plane, banged on the cockpit door, and demanded, “I need the pilot to come outside!” He then shouted racial slurs and threatened the captain before law enforcement intervened.

“We are committed to keeping the skies safe for flying and will prosecute those who criminally interfere with the professionals responsible for ensuring passenger safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss