A maskless man accused of urinating in his seat aboard an Alaska Airlines flight to Denver is facing up to 20 years behind bars and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The FBI arrested Landon Grier from Canon City after the flight landed March 9, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver. The 24-year-old suspect is facing one count of interfering with flight crew and attendants in connection with the incident, which unfolded shortly after the plane departed Seattle.
Grier appeared to be sleeping when he was first approached by a flight attendant, who attempted to request he put on a mask, FBI Special Agent Martin Daniell III, who interviewed Grier and crew members, wrote in the affidavit.
The suspect, in response, allegedly swatted at the airline worker and refused to put on a face covering, which is required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight attendants approached Grier a second time after another passenger told them he was urinating in his seating area.
In an interview with FBI agents, the suspect admitted to having a few beers and “a couple of shots” before boarding the plane and falling asleep. He claimed that he “awoke to being yelled at by the flight attendants who told him he was peeing.”
“He stated he had no recollection of hitting the flight attendant and didn’t know if he was peeing,” Daniell added.
Grier was appointed a public defender during his initial hearing on Thursday. He has since been released on $10,000 and is scheduled to return court later this month.