SEATTLE- A man who launched an unprovoked attack on a random passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight from Seattle (SEA) to Las Vegas (LAS) has pleaded guilty to stabbing his seatmate with a homemade weapon fashioned from three pens.
Julio Alvarez Lopez now faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison after agreeing to a plea deal on one count of assault using a deadly weapon. The attack took place on flight AS-604 as the aircraft descended toward Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) on the morning of January 24, 2024.
Alaska Airlines Pleads Guilty
Lopez is a citizen of Mexico who was granted legal permanent resident status in the United States in 2018.
He had initially pleaded not guilty to the assault charge but reversed his position last week, entering a guilty plea that resolves the criminal case ahead of a scheduled trial.
The weapon used in the attack was a crude shank built from three pens bound together with hair bands. The victim survived the assault, but investigators documented that Lopez had intended a far more serious outcome.
How the Attack Unfolded on Flight AS604
Witnesses aboard the two-hour flight described Lopez as visibly agitated for the entire journey. He repeatedly stood up to search through his backpack in the overhead bin, and he put on and removed his gloves several times during the trip.
With roughly 30 minutes of flight time remaining, Lopez left his seat and locked himself in the lavatory for a period. According to PYOK, when he exited the bathroom, he moved directly toward the male victim and began the attack without provocation.
Lopez punched and struck the passenger repeatedly before using the taped pens to stab him. Witnesses recalled seeing blood across the cabin as the victim’s wife pleaded with Lopez to stop.
Passengers and Crew Restrain the Attacker
After the assault, Lopez began moving toward the front of the aircraft. An off-duty law enforcement officer intervened and ordered him to sit down while flight attendants retrieved flexi-cuffs to restrain him.
The victim suffered several puncture wounds to his face that required stitches. He avoided serious injury despite the severity of the attack.
Suspect’s Claims and Mental Health Evaluation
Lopez told investigators that he had wanted to kill the victim. He said he feared the passenger was a member of a cartel or mafia that had been pursuing him for several months.
He further stated that he planned to stab the victim through the eye and into the brain using the makeshift weapon. Before the case reached this stage, Lopez was held in custody and spent time in a mental health hospital, where he underwent an evaluation to determine whether he was fit to stand trial.
Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2026. The single count of assault using a deadly weapon carries a possible maximum term of 10 years in federal prison.
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