Feds charge Texas man with ‘obscene exposure of genitalia’ aboard Spirit Airlines flight

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A traveler from the Houston suburbs is facing federal charges after he exposed himself aboard a commercial airliner, charging documents show.

Christopher Danielle Johnson “intentionally committed an act of indecent and obscene exposure of his genitalia” on a Spirit Airlines flight to South Florida, according to a bill of information prosecutors filed March 24.

Johnson, 32, was arrested by local police after Spirit flight NK1304 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on February 5.

He was initially charged with exposure of sexual organs – 1st offense, a state crime, and is now charged with committing a lewd, indecent, or obscene act within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, a misdemeanor which carries up to 90 days behind bars and a $5,000 fine.

Court documents are thin on details, and do not provide additional information about Johnson’s alleged indecent behavior during the 2.5-hour journey.

Johnson does not yet have an attorney listed on the docket, and was unable to be reached for comment.

Spirit Airlines is far from the only carrier to deal with ‘unruly passengers’ in the air. Now, one of its passengers is being accused of exposing himself online (Getty Images)

The FBI investigates criminal incidents that occur aboard planes in U.S. airspace, which hit an all-time high in 2021, according to FAA data. Last year, there were 1,621 unruly passenger reports referred to the FAA; there have been 374 to date so far in 2026. Aside from potential jail time, causing trouble in the air can affect a person’s eligibility for programs such as TSA PreCheck, and, among other things, can get them placed on an individual airline’s internal no-fly list.

Last year, Spirit Airlines permanently banned a 65-year-old registered sex offender from ever boarding another one of their planes following his arrest on charges of groping a teenage girl who had been sitting next to him on a flight from Indianapolis to Orlando.

In 2020, a man aboard a Spirit flight from Atlanta to Detroit was accused of slipping his hand down a sleeping woman’s pants while the plane was landing, prompting an FBI investigation.

In 2017, a Spirit passenger in Las Vegas boarded a flight bound for Oakland, stripped naked, and relieved himself in the aisle of the plane, according to reports. He was removed from the aircraft and “given medical attention,” police said at the time.

Christopher Danielle Johnson 'intentionally committed an act of indecent and obscene exposure of his genitalia' on a Spirit Airlines flight to South Florida, according to a bill of information prosecutors filed March 24 — Christopher Danielle Johnson ‘intentionally committed an act of indecent and obscene exposure of his genitalia’ on a Spirit Airlines flight to South Florida, according to a bill of information prosecutors filed March 24 (Broward County Sheriff’s Office)

Spirit is far from the only carrier to deal with this sort of issue.

In 2022, a passenger aboard a Southwest flight from Seattle to Phoenix was booked on federal charges after he allegedly masturbated four times on the three-hour journey.

When a drunk passenger on a July 2024 American Eagle flight between Chicago and Manchester, New Hampshire, removed his clothes and urinated in the aisle, the plane was forced to divert to Buffalo, where the 25-year-old Oregon resident was arrested upon touchdown.

Last week, a JetBlue passenger seated in Mint Class, the carrier’s version of business class, made headlines and received an official warning from the cabin crew when he was caught allegedly pleasuring himself mid-air.

Johnson is set to make his initial appearance before a judge in Fort Lauderdale federal court on April 9.

Spirit Airlines did not respond on Tuesday to a request for comment.