United States Attorney's Office
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Wesley Orban, age 37, of Ireton, Iowa, was sentenced on December 13, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assault in a special aircraft jurisdiction. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Orban to 3 years of probation.
On November 9, 2023, Orban was a passenger on Delta Airlines flight 5751 travelling from Omaha Eppley Airfield in Omaha to LaGuardia International Airport in New York. Shortly after the airplane’s external doors were closed following boarding and the plane had pushed back from the jetway and began to taxi to the runway, Orban began yelling “God is real” and began speaking about demons. Orban then left his seat and ran to the front of the plane. He began banging on the cabin door and attempted to open the door. Orban physically struggled with a flight attendant, who got between Orban and the cockpit door. Orban was then subdued by passengers and removed from the airplane before takeoff.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.