A Belgian passenger has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after assaulting flight attendants and attempting to force his way into the cockpit of a SWISS International Air Lines flight from Newark to Zurich.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 43-year-old Jan Daeninck was sentenced on June 1, 2026, by a federal court in New Jersey. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to pay more than $73,000 in restitution and will be subject to one year of supervised release.
The incident occurred on March 31, 2024, aboard SWISS flight LX19, operated by an Airbus A330. Shortly after takeoff from Newark Liberty International Airport, Daeninck approached a female flight attendant, grabbed both of her breasts, shook her and began yelling at her while threatening to kill her, according to court documents.
After the crew member managed to get away, Daeninck allegedly ran toward the cockpit and repeatedly kicked and struck the reinforced flight deck door in an apparent attempt to gain entry. When a male flight attendant intervened, Daeninck punched and kicked him, striking him in the head and upper body.
Crew members eventually restrained the Belgian passenger near the cockpit for the remainder of the flight. The pilots decided to abandon the transatlantic journey and return the aircraft to Newark, where law enforcement officers took Daeninck into custody.
Daeninck later pleaded guilty to assaulting a flight attendant by beating, wounding or striking the crew member. Prosecutors said his actions endangered passengers, crew members and the security of the aircraft.
“The defendant’s actions threatened the safety and security of innocent passengers, crew members, and the flight itself,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer following the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Newark Field Office with assistance from the Port Authority Police Department.