Spirit Airlines Passenger Gets 2 Months In Federal Prison

MIAMI, FL — A Florida man has been sentenced to two months in a federal prison after mixing pills and whiskey on a Spirit Airlines flight from Newark to Fort Lauderdale over the summer and then making threats against two flight attendants. Michael Anthony Minko of White Springs pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidating a flight attendant of an aircraft in flight. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered Minko to begin his sentence on Feb. 23.

The sentence was announced on Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg of Miami and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert F. Lasky of Miami.

Prosecutors described the 36-year-old Minko's conduct on the July 18 flight as beyond unruly.

"After the flight departed, the defendant drank an excessive amount of whiskey from a bottle in his possession and consumed prescription alprazolam," according to federal prosecutors. The drug is a generic form of Xanax.

"During the course of the flight, Minko cursed, used abusive language, made verbal threats and exhibited threatening actions," prosecutors explained. "As a result, a flight attendant and three passengers used plastic flex cuffs to secure Minko’s hands behind his back."

In handing down two, concurrent two-month prison sentences, Bloom allowed Minko time to continue treatment at an alcohol and drug treatment facility.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William T. Shockley.

Photo courtesy Spirit Airlines