While the blaze wasn’t real, the charges that Anatoliy Baranovich is now facing in court are.
According to an affidavit filed by the FBI in District Court in Utah this week, during the plane's descent in Utah, Baranovich became “very nervous” and agitated and began “yelling to the passenger next to him” in Russian, explaining he thought the wing of the aircraft was on fire.
Baranovich was on board a Boeing 757 aircraft being operated by Delta Airlines from Boston to Salt Lake City.
The affidavit alleges that the suspect did “assault and intimidate flight attendants and crew members” on the aircraft and interfered with their duties.
According to court documents, as the plane touched ground, Baranovich exited his window seat and ran to the back of the aircraft to the galley area.
“Baranovich located the emergency exit door located on the starboard side of the aircraft and opened the door. While he was struggling to open the door, the flight attendant issued commands for Baranovich to stop,” the report said.
Baranovich ignored the attendant and continued to open the door, causing a malfunction which jammed the door, malfunctioned the emergency inflatable slide, and caused extensive damage to the fuselage, officials said.
Soon after he began flipping out, passengers restrained Baranovich, the report said.
Later, when questioned by FBI officials about what happened, Baranovich allegedly told officials he had been in the Ukraine for 50 days visiting family for work, but had been drinking everyday.
“Baranovich stated that he got drunk and stayed drunk for the entire fifty days. Baranovich stated, ‘I never sobered up,’” according to the report.
Baranovich flew from Kiev, Ukraine to Amsterdam, Netherlands and then to Boston where he then headed for Salt Lake City. He was scheduled to travel to Oregon.
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