A flight en route from Omaha to Detroit was forced to make an emergency landing after a 23-year-old Albanian passenger allegedly attempted to open one of the aircraft’s doors.
Delta Connection Flight 3612, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was diverted to Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to CNN. The passenger, identified as Mario Nikprelaj, 23, from Nebraska, reportedly had an earlier argument with a flight attendant before attempting to open an emergency exit door.
Incident Details and Charges
“On July 17, 2025, at approximately 6:13 PM, Cedar Rapids Police were dispatched to Eastern Iowa Airport following an in-flight disturbance by a passenger on a SkyWest flight from Omaha to Detroit,” the Cedar Rapids Police Department stated on Facebook.
Nikprelaj was taken to the Linn County Correctional Center and charged with disorderly conduct, assault, possession of prescription drugs, and first-degree harassment. Authorities have indicated that additional charges are not ruled out.
Following the emergency landing and resolution of the incident, the aircraft eventually landed at its intended destination in Detroit, nearly an hour and a half later than scheduled, according to Flight Aware.
