This story happened a month or so ago, but I am just now getting around to covering it. While there is certainly no shortage of drinking and drunk people on planes and in airport lounges, rarely do we see it reach to the level where the police are called and someone is getting arrested. I saw this story both at One Mile at a Time and View from the Wing.
Man Arrested In Salt Lake City Delta SkyClub
The incident occurred around 8:30 PM on June 8, 2025. Joseph Johnson, a 29-year-old Delta passenger, was at the Sky Club lounge in Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) when his behavior drew serious attention. Witnesses say he was heavily intoxicated and allegedly attempted to steal another traveler’s backpack, which was worth approximately $4,000 including its contents.
Due to his conduct, Johnson was removed from the lounge. After entering the main terminal, he initially cooperated with police but soon became aggressive — reportedly ramming his luggage into officers and attempting to grab a gun from one of them, pulling on it so forcefully that the officer’s belt lifted.
Officers subdued him and placed him under arrest. He was taken into custody and is now facing several charges: theft, attempted disarming of a police officer, public intoxication, and obstruction of law enforcement.
It raises the question of whether he was already severely intoxicated before entering the lounge — or if something beyond alcohol may have been involved.
How to Prevent Your Luggage From Being Stolen
We have talked before about whether it’s a good idea to leave your bags unattended in airport lounges, with the general consensus being that you should keep an eye on your belongings, even when you are just getting food or going to the bathroom. Personally, I would always take my stuff with me if I was leaving the room (such as going to the bathroom), but I might leave my bags at my table if I’m getting food and I can keep an eye on them. In this case, given the apparent irrationality of Mr. Johnson, I’m not sure that anything would have helped other than physically holding onto the bag at all times.
The Bottom Line
Since it’s been a month or so since this incident happened, I tried to do some searching to see if there was any update on what happened to this passenger, but I did not see any reporting of the story. I have to imagine it will not end up amazingly for him. Still, it is a reminder to both moderate your drinking if you’re going to drink on an airplane or in a lounge, as well as to always keep your eye on your belongings while in an airport lounge.
Ever witnessed drunk behavior in an airport lounge? Leave your stories in the comments below
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at
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