Man jumped from moving plane in LA after crystal meth bender
- Passenger faces 20 years in prison after incident on aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport
- Criminal complaint says male passenger tried to break into cockpit before opening emergency exit
A passenger who tried to break into a plane cockpit last week had recently been under the influence of methamphetamine before he jumped from the moving plane in Los Angeles, authorities said.
Luis Antonio Victoria Dominguez of La Paz, Mexico, broke his leg on Friday when he opened the plane’s emergency exit and jumped to the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, according to the US attorney’s office in Los Angeles.
He underwent surgery and was expected to appear in federal court this week on a charge of interference with a flight crew, which could bring 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
A criminal complaint released Monday gave new details about the incident and Victoria Dominguez’s life in the days prior.
The 33-year-old arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the complaint says. His plan was to get to Salt Lake City, but he did not have a connecting flight. He spent the night at a hotel in downtown Los Angeles after drinking several beers and buying “a lot” of crystal meth for US$20, he told the FBI.
The next day, he continued to smoke the crystal meth and decided to fly to Utah instead of taking a bus, the complaint says. He smoked more of the drug before heading to the airport Thursday but ultimately missed his flight and wandered the streets through the night.