Suspect in Airplane Incident Indicted on Piracy Charge

A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted a San Jose man who allegedly threatened to kill fellow passengers aboard a Southwest Airlines flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Burbank Airport.

Joe Luis Mendez, 34, was charged with federal piracy and interfering with the flight crew, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.

The piracy charge carries a mandatory penalty of at least 20 years in federal prison. The second charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

On Jan. 12, Mendez allegedly interfered with Southwest’s Flight 923, originating in San Diego and bound for San Jose.

According to court documents, Mendez is accused of telling flight crew members that the plane’s captain “should take the plane to Hollywood or else he [Mendez] would start killing people.” Southwest Capt. David Deats explained to Mendez that there was no airport in Hollywood and offered to land in Los Angeles or Burbank, the affidavit said.

When the plane landed in Burbank, police arrested Mendez. He told police he had broken up with his girlfriend earlier that week and drove from San Jose to San Diego. After making up with him by phone, she bought him a ticket to return home, but while on the flight, he changed his mind about returning, authorities said. Last Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate James W. McMahon ordered Mendez held without bail. He said Mendez suffers from bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic depression. Mendez will be arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court.