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Spirit Airlines pilot arrested on stalking charges; airline faces scrutiny over recent incidents

Spirit Airlines pilot arrested on stalking charges; airline faces scrutiny over recent incidents
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Dave Davis, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer | Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines pilot Dominic Cipolla was arrested at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on June 17, 2025, following a warrant from Kansas authorities for alleged stalking. According to police information, the victims in the case are aged 12 and 17. Cipolla, who is 40 years old and a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, faces felony and misdemeanor charges related to incidents that allegedly occurred in Olathe, Kansas. If convicted of the felony charges, he could face one to three years in jail; misdemeanor convictions could result in fines up to $2,500.

After his arrest as a fugitive before boarding a scheduled flight—where another pilot replaced him—Cipolla was transferred to Johnson County jail through an extradition process. He was released on bail set at $12,500 and is awaiting his court date on August 12, 2025. Authorities have not indicated any connection between the alleged criminal actions and Cipolla’s professional duties as a Spirit Airlines pilot.

A representative from Spirit Airlines commented: “[Spirit Airlines is] 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. And we arranged for another pilot to operate the flight.”

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Cipolla joined Spirit Airlines in 2022 after serving in the US Military, according to reporting by The Guardian.

Recent months have seen other criminal incidents involving Spirit flights or passengers. On July 29, 2025, John Daniel Fowler was arrested for allegedly groping a teenage girl during a flight from Indianapolis to Orlando. Fowler reportedly touched the girl while she slept and made repeated attempts to interact with her before being detained upon arrival.

In another incident in January 2024 reported by the Miami Herald, a passenger assaulted a flight attendant on board Spirit flight 693 from Louisville to Orlando. The man allegedly grabbed the attendant and made inappropriate comments before being moved by crew members; he was found intoxicated and arrested after landing.

Additionally, there is an ongoing lawsuit against Spirit Airlines stemming from an incident in May 2024 when two female passengers were sexually accosted by an intoxicated traveler on a Dallas/Fort Worth–Fort Lauderdale flight. The legal complaint alleges that crew members failed to intervene or prevent further alcohol service despite ongoing harassment. Results of this case are still pending.

Spirit Airlines operates as an ultra-low-cost carrier based in the United States with multiple hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

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