At a Glance
- Mario Nikprelaj, 24, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for trying to open an exit door on a July 2025 flight.
- The Omaha-to-Detroit flight diverted to Cedar Rapids after he threatened to kill an 80-year-old flight attendant.
- He had 41 unprescribed Xanax pills on him and a rap sheet that includes domestic violence and assault on police.
- Why it matters: The stiff sentence underscores zero tolerance for air-rage incidents that endanger entire flights.
A disruptive passenger who tried to pry open an emergency exit at cruising altitude-forcing the plane into an emergency landing-has been handed an 18-month federal prison term and two years of supervised release.
The Sentence
Mario Nikprelaj learned his fate on Tuesday, Jan. 13, when U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams imposed the penalty in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The punishment followed Nikprelaj’s guilty plea in September 2025 to one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants.
Timeline of Chaos
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 17, 2025 | Flight departs Omaha, bound for Detroit |
| Minutes after takeoff | Nikprelaj unbuckles, stands, swears at crew |
| Mid-flight | He manipulates exit door, threatens attendant |
| Same day | Emergency landing in Cedar Rapids; arrest |
| Sept. 2025 | Pleads guilty |
| Jan. 13, 2026 | Sentenced to 18 months |
In-Flight Mayhem
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, Nikprelaj’s behavior escalated from annoying to dangerous within minutes:
- Pre-takeoff: He refused to fasten his seatbelt, berated passengers, and had to be coaxed into compliance.
- Ascent: He repeatedly unbuckled, stood up, and flipped off a flight attendant who told him to sit.
- Threats: He poked the 80-year-old attendant in the chest and vowed to kill him if reported.
- Exit-door attempt: Passengers hit call buttons when they saw him “manipulating the emergency exit door near his seat.”
- Assault: He shoved the attendant, swore, and kept threatening to kill.
- Diversion: The pilot declared an emergency and landed in Cedar Rapids.
- Final outbursts: He stripped off his shirt, stalked the aisle, swung at passengers, and flipped everyone off again.
What Police Found
Cedar Rapids officers boarded the SkyWest Bombardier CRJ-200 and arrested Nikprelaj. A search turned up:
- A prescription bottle containing 41 pills labeled as Xanax
- The bottle was not in his name
- He had no valid prescription
Prior Record
Federal prosecutors highlighted a lengthy criminal history:
- Assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer
- Domestic violence
- Disorderly conduct
- Breaking and entering
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
State Charges Too
Local authorities slapped Nikprelaj with multiple state counts after the plane landed:
- Disorderly conduct
- Assault
- Possession of prescription medication without a prescription
- Tax-stamp violation
- First-degree harassment
He was booked into the Linn County Correctional Center and later transferred to federal custody.
Court Reaction
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Lammers told the court that Nikprelaj “posed a direct threat to every person on that aircraft” and asked for a sentence at the high end of the guideline range. Defense counsel requested probation, citing mental-health struggles, but Judge Williams sided with the government.
Key Takeaways
- 18-month federal sentence sends a clear message about air-rage crimes.
- Combined state and federal charges mean Nikprelaj still faces additional court proceedings.
- Zero tolerance policy remains in force for any attempt to compromise cabin safety.
Federal inmates typically serve 85 percent of their sentence, meaning Nikprelaj could be released in late 2027, followed by two years of court-supervised release.
