Oregon man arrested for indecent exposure after flight from Oregon to New Hampshire is diverted to Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Neil McCarthy, 25, of Oregon, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with indecent exposure, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated according to the complaint, on July 3, 2024, the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA) Police were called to Gate 2 at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, to respond to a report made by an American Airlines flight that a man exposed himself and urinated in the aisle of the aircraft while the plane was in flight. The aircraft was diverted from the original destination of Manchester, New Hampshire, to Buffalo. When the flight landed, an officer boarded the airplane and spoke to a flight attendant, who said that McCarthy had exposed himself and urinated on the flight. McCarthy was taken into custody and escorted off the plane.

McCarthy made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was released on his own recognizance.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority Police, under the direction of Chief Brian Patterson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

# # # #