James Warren Finnister, a 47-year-old man from Detroit, missed his court appearance after causing a scene on his first flight ever. On January 9, 2024, Finnister was on a Spirit Airlines flight from Louisville, Kentucky, to Orlando, Florida, when the incident took place.
During the flight, Finnister asked two flight attendants if they wanted to join the “mile high club” and pulled one of them onto his lap. He also laid down in the aisle, disrupting the flight. The crew reported that Finnister never stayed in his assigned seat, 18D, and was moved several times due to his behavior.
Federal officials were called to Gate 23 at Orlando International Airport at 10 a.m. to deal with the situation. According to the criminal complaint, about an hour into the flight, Finnister made inappropriate remarks to the lead flight attendant. Later, he grabbed another flight attendant and repeated his indecent proposal.
The flight crew also noted that Finnister asked several concerning questions about accessing the cockpit and eventually lay down on the floor, forcing flight attendants to lift him up.
When the flight landed in Orlando, Finnister admitted to the police that he had taken multiple shots of alcohol to calm his nerves before the flight, as it was his first time flying.
The criminal complaint indicates there is probable cause to believe Finnister knowingly interfered with the flight crew’s duties. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Additionally, a document unsealed on May 31, 2024, revealed that Finnister failed to appear in court and was taken into custody in Southeast Michigan on a bench warrant.