Michael Aaron Ganter, Interference with a Flight Crew and Flight Attendants, North Carolina 2022

Raleigh, NC – A federal court in Raleigh heard the initial appearance of Michael Aaron Ganter, who was charged with Interference with a Flight Crew and Flight Attendants by criminal complaint.

According to the criminal complaint affidavit, on February 9, 2022, Ganter flew on a Frontier Airlines flight departing from LaGuardia Airport, New York, and was scheduled to fly to Orlando International Airport, Florida. During the flight, Ganter began making statements threatening violence to those on the flight and became increasingly disruptive.

Flight attendants requested assistance from other passengers, who restrained Ganter. Due to Ganter’s conduct, the pilots diverted the flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and Ganter was taken to WakeMed for evaluation. Upon his release from WakeMed, Ganter was arrested by special agents with the FBI.

The case is part of an ongoing commitment by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina to prevent violence, intimidation, threats of violence, and other criminal behavior that endangers the safety of passengers, flight crews, and flight attendants on commercial aircraft.

Mr. Easley stated, “Passengers who threaten violence in the close confines of a commercial aircraft put everyone in danger. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute federal crimes in the skies and ensure the safety of the flying public. Safe air travel is essential to our economy and keeping families connected. No passenger, flight crew, or flight attendant should have to fly in fear.”

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A probable cause and detention hearing is scheduled for Friday.

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