Passenger Arrested After Trying to Force His Way Into Cockpit on Flight to Rapid City

The Plane Was Still Flying

A passenger aboard a commercial flight arriving at Rapid City Regional Airport in South Dakota was arrested on May 9, 2026, after allegedly attempting to force his way into the cockpit. Officers from the Rapid City Police Department responded to the airport around 9:15 p.m. after the airline reported a disruptive passenger mid-flight.

The passenger was identified as Krish Mishra, 30, of Rosemont, Illinois. Airline staff told officers he had attempted to access the cockpit and, after the plane landed, refused repeated instructions to sit down.

What Happened Aboard the Flight

According to police, crew members reported that Mishra became disruptive during the flight’s final approach and attempted to move toward the front of the aircraft and enter the cockpit. Airline staff intervened before he reached the door.

When the plane landed at Rapid City Regional, Mishra continued to refuse crew instructions to remain seated. Officers met the aircraft at the gate, escorted him off, and took him into custody at the Pennington County Jail. He was charged with disorderly conduct.

The incident was forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security for further review, according to police. Federal investigators typically evaluate cockpit breach attempts for potential charges under federal aviation law, which carries significantly higher penalties than state disorderly conduct charges.

Why Cockpit Breaches Are Treated as Federal Matters

Under federal law, any individual who interferes with or attempts to enter the cockpit of a commercial aircraft - whether the plane is airborne or on the ground - can face charges under 49 U.S.C. Section 46504, which covers interference with flight crew members and attendants. A conviction under that statute carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The FBI investigates all credible cockpit breach attempts, regardless of how they are initially charged at the local level. Whether Mishra will face additional federal charges had not been confirmed publicly as of this reporting.

A Pattern Airlines and Regulators Are Watching

In-flight disruptions involving cockpit attempts have drawn increased attention from federal aviation regulators in recent years. The FAA reported nearly 500 unruly passenger incidents in 2026 as of early May, continuing an elevated trend that has persisted since the pandemic-era spike of 2021.

Incidents involving cockpit access are treated separately from other disruptive behavior because of the catastrophic potential if a breach succeeds. Crew members are trained to physically block the cockpit door, and post-9/11 reinforced cockpit doors on commercial aircraft are designed to resist forced entry - but incidents that reach the door itself require federal evaluation regardless of outcome.

For the passengers and crew on the Rapid City flight, the landing brought the incident to a close. For Mishra, the legal process was only beginning.

References: Passenger arrested after alleged attempt to enter cockpit on flight to Rapid City