NEWARK, N.J. – A passenger on a United Express flight was taken into custody by Port Authority Police after allegedly attacking a flight attendant and attempting to breach the cockpit last week. The incident, which occurred on January 9th, resulted in injuries to the flight attendant and six law enforcement officers.
According to a fellow passenger, Mike Egbert, the suspect made a “full sprint” towards the cockpit as the plane was approaching landing at Newark Liberty International Airport after a flight from Dulles International Airport. The flight attendant attempted to intervene, but was allegedly assaulted by the passenger, identified as Matthew Dingley.
“This guy was in a full sprint, right up to the cockpit, hits the cockpit, starts banging on it,” Egbert told WNBC. He further described the assault on the flight attendant, saying, “A slight woman, petite, and this guy was clocking her.”
Another passenger, reportedly with law enforcement experience, assisted in subduing Dingley, but the situation remained volatile. Upon landing, Port Authority Police officers took Dingley into custody, but he continued to resist arrest, allegedly assaulting the responding officers. “He picks up a police officer, throws the police officer…his back,” Egbert recounted. “If he did actually get into that cockpit lord knows what would have happened.”
The flight attendant was transported to a local hospital for treatment and has since been released. The six Port Authority officers sustained injuries during the altercation but are expected to recover.
Dingley has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, and interfering with transportation, according to NJ.com.
A spokesperson for CommutAir, the United Express partner airline operating the flight, released a statement to Fox News: “CommutAir flight 4965, operating as United Express from Washington Dulles to Newark, landed without incident and was met by local law enforcement due to a disruptive passenger. Our primary concern is always to ensure the safety of all customers and crew and we are cooperating with authorities. We express our gratitude for the quick reaction of our passengers and crew who responded during this incident.”
Resisting arrest and assaulting officers are serious offenses that carry significant legal consequences. The incident highlights the potential dangers faced by flight crews and the importance of passenger cooperation in maintaining a safe environment during air travel. The quick thinking of passengers and the prompt response of law enforcement prevented a potentially catastrophic situation.
Aggravated assault is a serious crime. Criminal trespassing is also a crime.