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Home » Law In Travel » Alaksa Airlines Passenger Stabs “Cartel” Seatmate With Makeshift Weapon, Claims Asylum In USA
Alaska AirlinesLaw In Travel

Alaksa Airlines Passenger Stabs “Cartel” Seatmate With Makeshift Weapon, Claims Asylum In USA

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 12, 2024March 11, 2024 45 Comments

a collage of a man with a bruised eye

A man faces criminal charges after attacking his seatmate on an Alaska Airlines flight with a crudely made weapon of pens and rubber bands he constructed in the lavatory. He’s also claiming asylum in the USA.

Fearing His Seatmate Is A Cartel Member Trailing Him, Man Stabs Him With Makeshift Weapon On Alaska Airlines Flight To Las Vegas

Julio Alvarez Lopez, a Mexican national, was flying on Alaska Airlines from Seattle (SEA) to Las Vegas (LAS) on January 24, 2024 on flight AS604. As the flight approached Las Vegas, Lopez rose to use the lavatory. One passenger later said he appeared fidgety. When he returned, he sat for a few minutes and then returned to the lavatory. When he returned a second time, he pulled out a makeshift weapon he had made by placing rubber bands around multiple pens.

Turning to the man across the aisle, he began attacking him by stabbing him around the eye. He later told investigators he thought the man was a member of the mafia following him. The man turned out to be an off-duty police officer who was traveling with his wife and 7-year-old child. As the man cried out in pain, his wife screamed as she tried to protect her son.

The violent attack created a bloodbath onboard, but Lopez was quickly restrained and placed into flex cuffs. Upon arrival at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, he was arrested.

Lopez was read his Miranda Rights but waived them and began speaking to investigators. He claimed that was being persecuted in Mexico and wished to claim asylum in the USA. He further stated that he felt his seatmate was watching him.

According to an FBI affidavit, Lopez “felt the Mafia had been chasing him the last few months.” He admitted that he had never seen his setmate before, but nevertheless “planned on killing him” because Lopez believed he was a member of the cartel who was following him. Lopez specifically said he was trying to “stab the man in the eye to reach his brain to kill him.”

“I planned on attacking and killing him.”

As noted by PYOK, a Grand Jury has subsequently returned an indictment against Lopez: he now faces a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

CONCLUSION

Lopez, being represented by a public defender, faces an uphill battle. Not only did multiple witnesses see him stab the off-duty police officer, but he admitted it..and admitted that he was trying to kill him. While an insanity plea may be his best hope, this is a horrific case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope that the off-duty police officer fully heals.


images: USDC District of Nevada

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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45 Comments

  1. Derek Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 8:14 am

    maybe if we made prisons actual prisons again with very brutal treatment, people would be less willing to commit crimes

    I’m talking about 16 hour work days at heavy labor. 1 shower a month, 1 roll of TP a month. 1 change of underwear a month. Somewhat harsher conditions that attica used to be

    Make prisons a place where convicts will truly suffer. Not a place for 3 hots and a cot

    • Steven Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 8:22 am

      The brutal prison culture in America is one of multiple reasons the crime rate is so high here. Worse, the cost likely exceeds a trillion dollars a year.
      Maybe we should spend money on prevention and rehabilitation instead.

      While this person is a Mexican national, anytime someone ends in prison it is a sign that we failed.

      • Derek Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 8:34 am

        3 hots and a cot along with daily showers is not brutal

        Brutal is something harsher than 1960s Attica, which is what a PRISON should be. It should be a place you are desperate to not end up in

        • Steven Reply
          March 12, 2024 at 9:42 am

          Why not focus on the issues that cause people to commit the crimes instead of threatening the population? Which approach usually works better?

          • Aaron
            March 12, 2024 at 11:00 am

            I doubt Derek would last 15 minutes in a current non-White collar American prison.

          • Bandmeeting
            March 12, 2024 at 12:00 pm

            Aaron. Is surviving 15 minutes in a current non-White collar American prison something people should aspire to? I’m not at all sure what the point of that would be. I’ll never see the inside of one so I’m content to be in the “couldn’t survive” category.

        • Dave Edwards Reply
          March 12, 2024 at 1:23 pm

          Aaron plays prison every weekend at his parties. The guy buys cases of soap and keeps dropping bars as they line up to dump one in his a#s.

          The only thing that slows down the party is when his pink sock comes out again. If you don’t know what that is, check it out on Urban Dictionary.

          And let’s face it, we ALL knew he would post on this story trying to defend the indefensible because of his hatred of normal values. Being a freak appears to do that to one.

      • AngryFlier Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 8:40 am

        This is nonsensical thinking, of the sort that has led to rampant increases in crime in cities with radical DAs. Absolute BS.

        • Steven Reply
          March 12, 2024 at 9:40 am

          The increase in crime is due to inequality and lack of support for the people committing the crimes. It’s amazing how so many countries have figured this out. We have the highest incarcerated population in the world and the clueless think the answer is to incarcerate more and for longer.

          • Santastico
            March 12, 2024 at 10:07 am

            Why don’t you host these angels in your basement?

          • Derek
            March 12, 2024 at 10:24 am

            Bull-f***ing-s**t

            Inequality is causing crimes? That is loser leftist talk

            Maybe if people would stop being so jealous of those who are successful and put themselves to work, they wouldn’t need to commit crimes. The problem is, people think they can reach the top overnight. They should learn the various stages of wealth (from financial solvency, to financial stability, all the way to financial abundance) and focus on making the next stage

          • derek
            March 12, 2024 at 10:33 am

            Crime is due to bad parents and inheriting bad genes as well as poor judgment

            I am derek, not Derek

          • Aaron
            March 12, 2024 at 11:02 am

            “Inequality is causing crimes? That is loser leftist talk”

            Nah, it would fall under common sense talk.

          • Santastico
            March 12, 2024 at 11:29 am

            @Aaron: I invite you to leave your basement and travel to Latin America to see what inequality is.. You will see a world you don’t see in your little bubble. But you will see that although inequality is huge, there are amazing happy and decent people that find ways to succeed. You will see that being poor or not having choices has nothing to do in becoming a criminal. It is really your choice and criminals make bad choices.

          • Steven
            March 12, 2024 at 11:30 am

            “Maybe if people would stop being so jealous of those who are successful and put themselves to work, they wouldn’t need to commit crimes.”

            They do put themselves to work, they just don’t earn enough to live comfortably. Again, all problems solved in many other countries.

          • Steven
            March 12, 2024 at 11:35 am

            “Crime is due to bad parents and inheriting bad genes as well as poor judgment”

            Sure, that could be. So we punish the children of bad parents by incarcerating them? Why not ensure they are set up to succeed instead? Why not have policies in place that protect children from those bad parents?

            Nope, we just want to lock them all up and throw away the keys. And when they get out after their mistake their lives are ruined forever, causing them to commit more crime, all on taxpayer dime.

          • Derek
            March 12, 2024 at 1:44 pm

            “They do put themselves to work, they just don’t earn enough to live comfortably. Again, all problems solved in many other countries.”

            One who is merely financially solvent is not supposed to live comfortably. They are only meeting their obligations.

            You are showing that you know nothing about wealth creation or the stages of wealth. Maybe this blog isn’t for you as it caters to those that actually have cash

          • Koggerj
            March 12, 2024 at 7:45 pm

            Inequality isn’t a thing. Wealth isn’t a finite resource.

            Crime is caused by left wing policies and in this case open borders that let in hordes of low IQ third world VERMIN.

      • Koggerj Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 7:35 pm

        We should execute more people and not with any appeals either. We do it china style

        Start with all these LGBT pedos.

    • Kevin Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 5:54 pm

      I dont believe youve ever been to a california prison or county or usp’s. Your odds of not coming back are significantly higher than most states.

  2. Maryland Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 8:26 am

    Untreated mental illness is a danger to everyone, and this is a particularly horrible example. Hopefully the officer and family can recover from the terror and injury. The blood covered hand and weapon will stay in my memory.

    The best outcome will be the maximum sentence.

    • Alert Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 9:06 am

      Perhaps best prevention would be to deal with the open border . I am rather surprised that he was identified as being from Mexico , and not as a “disturbed young man” .

      • Maryland Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 9:49 am

        @Alert my comment referred to the danger of untreated mental illness. And mental illness does not know borders.

        • Alert Reply
          March 12, 2024 at 10:32 am

          @Maryland … +1 . I agree that untreated mental illness is a problem . Why cannot he have his untreated mental illness in his home country , with his family , back in Mexico , where he was born and raised ? Allowing him to come here nearly killed an American officer , and much else . So the border is relevant in his case . I’ll bet that you lock your hotel door , correct ? You lock your home door , correct ? Locking our border is the same principle .

          • Maryland
            March 12, 2024 at 11:26 am

            Alert . It must be time for your nap. Perhaps watch a little Fox and get some rest. Night. ; )

          • Alert
            March 12, 2024 at 1:20 pm

            @Maryland … +1 . ha-ha . I have never owned a television , and have never watched tv news . I live in remote-ville , and I very much doubt that the locals would tolerate this psychopath here . They would wrap him up and deliver him in a bundle to the police 60 miles away . His “therapy” would be to “move him on out” , just as Mexico did . I am sure the New York Times would happily accept him .

  3. Alert Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 9:01 am

    Likely this is a result of the open border allowing into our homeland numerous bad actors , including criminals and terrorists and psychopaths . Domestic air travel has gone downhill , and will never recover .

    • Aaron Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 11:06 am

      What a silly comment. We don’t know this man’s status, if he is in the US under some type of visa or if he is undocumented.

    • Kevin Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 6:02 pm

      Youre assuming that and its kind of racist. Mexicans do have money, believe it or not some mexicans have money and theres this concept called vacation, obviously this man was mentally ill, hell be thrown in prison anyway but that should be the focus. On a friggin plane lol.. we check that stuff thoroughly. Remember this thing called 9/11..

  4. Koggerj Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 9:49 am

    “they are not sending their best”

    • Aaron Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 11:03 am

      And yet we somehow still ended up with you…

      • Chi Hsuan Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 1:51 pm

        Yet his quality is way greater than yours little Aaron

      • Koggerj Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 7:36 pm

        People like you are defective humans.

  5. Kevin Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 10:26 am

    Welcome to Joe Biden’s America.

    On another note, because the of strain of EV’s on the electric grid, electric chair power is unreliable and expensive.

    Bullets are cheaper and more effective.

    • Aaron Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 11:03 am

      Nah, nothing to do with Biden.

      • Alert Reply
        March 12, 2024 at 12:34 pm

        @Aaron … Biden is allowing into the U.S. many more , just like him . Israelis worry about this night and day . Lock your doors , good people ,

    • Steven Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 11:40 am

      “On another note, because the of strain of EV’s on the electric grid”

      What a silly conspiracy.

  6. JT Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 12:12 pm

    He was at the wrong place, at the wrong time… claiming Asylum, sure, sounds like he was here illegally. Here we go again…

    • Alert Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 12:30 pm

      @JT … +1 . Yep . Supposedly fleeing “persecution” in Mexico . Tells me that Mexico had his number , but , instead of dragging him off to the prison , sent him here . As does Cuba and Venezuela with their psychopaths .,

  7. Chi Hsuan Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 1:50 pm

    Another fake asylum invader that the Biden regime will welcome so he can abuse our country further.

    • Alert Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 2:31 pm

      @Chi Hsuan … +1 . Biden wants his vote .

  8. Jan Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 4:28 pm

    Lefties in the comments section are literally more triggered about the comments than the actual criminal. Pathetic, SMH

    • Koggerj Reply
      March 12, 2024 at 7:37 pm

      It’s sad isn’t it.
      America needs a Pinochet.

  9. Maryland Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 6:09 pm

    The Lefts pretty much left a while ago. But there is great amusement in watching the, um, “conservatives” shadow box as I’m not sure they have noticed. Fun for me.

    And allow me to remind everyone, this sick puppy needs the max sentence (was it 30?). He needs to be force fed meds and never given parole or released from a psychiatric hospital. Too dangerous.

  10. Rozellevm Reply
    March 12, 2024 at 10:06 pm

    Guy won’t be in jail for a week if that! They need to be banned from airport property and given real jail time that will cut down on these people for sure.

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