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Spirit Airlines pilot ‘removed from duty’ after being arrested on stalking charges Spirit Airlines pilot ‘removed from duty’ after being arrested on stalking charges
(about 3 hours later)
Dominic Cipolla was arrested at New Orleans’s international airport on stalking charges out of Kansas, officials sayDominic Cipolla was arrested at New Orleans’s international airport on stalking charges out of Kansas, officials say
A Spirit Airlines pilot has been “removed from duty” after being arrested at work at New Orleans’s international airport on stalking charges out of Kansas, according to officials. A Spirit Airlines pilot has been “removed from duty” after being arrested at work at New Orleans’ international airport on stalking charges out of Kansas, according to officials.
Dominic A Cipolla, 40, was charged with stalking two different people in a criminal complaint dated 11 July, records in the Johnson county courthouse in Olathe, Kansas, show. Officials haven’t released much information about the charges against Cipolla, but the dates of birth listed in court documents for his alleged victims indicate that they are approximately 12 and 17 years old.Dominic A Cipolla, 40, was charged with stalking two different people in a criminal complaint dated 11 July, records in the Johnson county courthouse in Olathe, Kansas, show. Officials haven’t released much information about the charges against Cipolla, but the dates of birth listed in court documents for his alleged victims indicate that they are approximately 12 and 17 years old.
Local law enforcement officers arrested Cipolla in connection with that complaint on 17 July while he was working at Louis Armstrong airport in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, Louisiana.Local law enforcement officers arrested Cipolla in connection with that complaint on 17 July while he was working at Louis Armstrong airport in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, Louisiana.
He was held as a fugitive at a local lockup before being transferred to the Johnson county jail on 2 August. He soon posted a $12,500 bond for his release from custody while awaiting the outcome of the charges against him and was tentatively scheduled to make an initial court appearance on 12 August, records show.He was held as a fugitive at a local lockup before being transferred to the Johnson county jail on 2 August. He soon posted a $12,500 bond for his release from custody while awaiting the outcome of the charges against him and was tentatively scheduled to make an initial court appearance on 12 August, records show.
When asked about Cipolla on Monday, a spokesperson for Spirit – which is based in Florida and known for its low air fare – said in a statement that the company was “aware of a matter involving a pilot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport … which was unrelated to the performance of their job duties”.When asked about Cipolla on Monday, a spokesperson for Spirit – which is based in Florida and known for its low air fare – said in a statement that the company was “aware of a matter involving a pilot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport … which was unrelated to the performance of their job duties”.
“The pilot was removed from duty pending our investigation into the matter,” the airline’s statement said. “And we arranged for another pilot to operate the flight.”“The pilot was removed from duty pending our investigation into the matter,” the airline’s statement said. “And we arranged for another pilot to operate the flight.”
Records in Cipolla’s case show that the charge he faces in connection with the younger of the two alleged victims is considered a severity level 7 person felony in Kansas, which is a crime that can carry about one to three years in prison under the state’s laws. The other charge is considered a class A person misdemeanor, which can carry a fine of up to $2,500 or up to a year in county jail.Records in Cipolla’s case show that the charge he faces in connection with the younger of the two alleged victims is considered a severity level 7 person felony in Kansas, which is a crime that can carry about one to three years in prison under the state’s laws. The other charge is considered a class A person misdemeanor, which can carry a fine of up to $2,500 or up to a year in county jail.
Cipolla is described as a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, in court records. Kansas City is about 22 miles (35km) north of Olathe.Cipolla is described as a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, in court records. Kansas City is about 22 miles (35km) north of Olathe.
Attempts to contact Cipolla were not immediately successful.Attempts to contact Cipolla were not immediately successful.
A profile under his name at a publicly accessible sales and recruiting platform says Cipolla once served in the US military and joined Spirit in 2022 as a first officer after spending the previous three years in the same role at the Texas regional airline Envoy Air.A profile under his name at a publicly accessible sales and recruiting platform says Cipolla once served in the US military and joined Spirit in 2022 as a first officer after spending the previous three years in the same role at the Texas regional airline Envoy Air.