Nebraska man arrested after causing emergency flight landing at Eastern Iowa Airport

CEDAR RAPIDS — An Elkhorn, Nebraska man was arrested in Cedar Rapids Thursday evening after he caused a disturbance on a flight from Omaha to Detroit, resulting in the plane diverting to The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

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Mario Nikprelaj, 23, is charged in Linn County with assault, disorderly conduct, first-degree harassment, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, and failure to affix drug tax stamp.

According to a criminal complaint, Nikprelaj assaulted another man by shoving him and threatening to kill him “near an assembly of people.” He also had 41 Alprazolam pills, a prescription medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, that did not have the appropriate Iowa drug tax stamps.

Nikprelaj had his first appearance in court Friday and is being held at the Linn County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

A user on X, formerly Twitter, posted a video Thursday night that he said he recorded on the Delta SkyWest flight that shows Nikprelaj being taken off the plane by Cedar Rapids Police officers.

Emergency Landing of @Delta Flight DL3612 from Omaha to Detroit.

Safe travels out there folks! Got diverted to Cedar Rapids because this guy decided to try and open the exit row door then fight the flight crew and other passengers.#Delta #Fight pic.twitter.com/vK3SiPaT5x

— J.S.V. (@jspencervan) July 17, 2025

The X user, @jspencervan, also posted a statement explaining that he was a passenger on the flight, which Nikprelaj disrupted by ignoring safety protocols and eventually attempting to open the emergency exit door mid flight.

“The flight attendants were amazing under pressure and got him seated again while another passenger was placed near the door,” the post reads.

The pilot then declared an emergency and landed the plane in Cedar Rapids. While the plane was descending, Nikprelaj got up again and started walking toward the front of the plane, but was stopped by other passengers, including the X user. The plane was grounded for more than two hours while police investigated and talked to crew and passengers, according to the social media post.

“Huge credit to the flight attendants, the pilot, and every passenger who stepped up. Could’ve ended a lot worse,” the post reads.

The Gazette reached out to the X user for additional comment, but had not received a response as of Friday afternoon.

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