OMAHA, Neb. — A man from northwest Iowa who was attempting to open the cabin doors of a plane before takeoff was sentenced last week in federal court, for assaulting a flight attendant in Omaha. According to reports, 37-year-old Wesley Orban, of Ireton, will serve three years probation for assault in a special aircraft jurisdiction. Orban was aboard a plane that was about to depart from Eppley heading to LaGuardia Airport in New York in November 2023.

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.