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Iowa man faces charges after an incident at Epply Airfield in Omaha

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November 14th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. — An Iowa man was charged in federal court after screaming about God and demons, attempting to open the cabin doors of a plane before takeoff at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. Wesley Orban is charged with interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants. According to court documents, Orban was aboard a plane that was about to depart from Eppley heading to LaGuardia Airport in New York on Thursday.

A passenger told authorities that Orban began yelling “God is real” and spoke of demons, then jumped from his seat and ran toward the front of the plane, according to court documents. Flight attendants heard Orban yelling, “open the doors” and he started pounding on the cabin doors, attempting to open them, according to court documents. A flight attendant and four other passengers were able to subdue Orban, who then said, “I’m embarrassed, I don’t know why I did that,” court documents state.

The flight was suspended and the airplane was returned to the gate, with Orban being taken into custody by the Omaha Airport Authority Police Department.