A Detroit man has been arrested for his lewd and inappropriate behavior on a Spirit Airlines flight. According to a complaint filed by local authorities, James Finnister, a frequent flyer on the budget airline, allegedly asked flight attendants to join the infamous “mile high club” during a flight from Louisville to Orlando.
Finnister, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time, made the brazen request to two different flight attendants on the flight. Despite being warned multiple times by the flight crew, Finnister continued with his lewd behavior, even going as far as to lie on the floor in front of his seat and attempting to enter the cockpit.
In an alarming display of disrespect and disregard for the rules and safety of others, Finnister also made inappropriate and intimidating comments to one of the flight attendants while pulling her into his seat. This not only made the crew members uncomfortable, but it also disrupted the entire flight, causing the attendants to stop their in-flight service and physically move Finnister out of the way.
According to the complaint, Finnister had been reassigned to a different seat earlier in the flight due to his disruptive behavior. However, this did not deter him from continuing his offensive actions towards the flight attendants and even questioning them about how to enter the cockpit. Such behavior is not only unacceptable, but it also raises serious concerns about the safety and security of passengers.
Meet James Finnister of Michigan. He faces a federal criminal charge after asking Spirit flight attendants to join the Mile High Club. He was on his first flight ever, allegedly drunk, and laid on the floor requiring attendants to pick him up. https://t.co/s5m5EsDiaw pic.twitter.com/uSnj9B4gcL
— Extreme Michigan (@ExtremeMichigan) January 13, 2024
Passengers on the flight were left shocked and appalled by Finnister’s behavior, with some even taking to social media to express their outrage and call for stricter measures to be put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Spirit Airlines, which has been known for its cheap fares and no-frills approach, has faced backlash for its lack of strict guidelines for passengers and its inability to properly handle disruptive individuals like Finnister.
The Department of Justice disclosed on Friday that the FBI is conducting an investigation into James Warren Finnister, 47, a Spirit Airlines (NK) passenger.#SpiritAirlines $SAVE #FlightAttendant #Avgeeks #Airlines #FBI #USA #USAToday #Aviation #Newshttps://t.co/NMsjIisd0H pic.twitter.com/2LQUG4p4oR
— Aviation A2z (@Aviationa2z) January 13, 2024
Thankfully, Finnister was detained by local authorities upon arrival at the Orlando International Airport and has been charged with interfering with the flight crew. It is disturbing to think what could have happened if the flight attendants had not taken swift action and if Finnister had managed to access the cockpit. This incident serves as a wake-up call for airlines to reevaluate their policies and procedures in dealing with disruptive and potentially dangerous passengers.
