Ukraine Man Arrested At Denver International Airport After Interfering With Delta Flight Crew Members

UPDATE: Pecherskyi is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Denver on Monday, November 3, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen M. Tafoya at 10:00 a.m. for a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing. Magistrate Judge Tafoya is located on the 2nd floor of the Byron G. Rogers Courthouse, located at 1929 Stout Street. The hearing will likely involve an interpreter, which could prolong the court appearance. The defendant is represented by a federal public defender.

DENVER – Vadym Pecherskyi, age 42, of Kiev, Ukraine, was arrested late last night after he interfered with two flight attendants aboard a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to Denver International Airport, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge  Thomas Ravenelle announced.  Pecherskyi is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge tomorrow, where he will be advised of his rights, as well as the charges pending against him.  Those charges are contained in a Criminal Complaint filed this morning.

On October 27, 2014 at 9:03 p.m. an FBI Special Agent was notified by the DIA Communications Center that a disturbance had occurred onboard a Delta Flight.  The agent, after responding to the airport, learned that passenger Vadym Pecherskyi, who was on Delta Flight 2525, had made unwanted sexual advances toward two female flight attendants.  The defendant had been served at least two alcoholic drinks before his behavior.

As a result of his sexual advances, both flight attendants felt they could not adequately perform their assigned duties aboard the airplane.  A passenger onboard the flight also confirmed the defendant’s sexual advances towards the flight attendants. 

This conduct would generally result in a charge of interference with flight crew members, where the defendant would face not more than 20 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Denver Police Department (DPD).

The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Brown.

A Criminal Complaint is a probable cause charging document.  Anyone accused of committing a federal felony crime has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.

The charges contained in this press release are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.