Former NFL player Gosder Cherilus has appeared in court facing allegations of urinating on a fellow passenger during a Delta Air Lines flight.
The 40-year-old, who played as an offensive lineman and starred at Boston College, pleaded not guilty to charges of interfering with the operation of an aircraft, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest during his arraignment at East Boston District Court on Monday. He was subsequently released on $2,500 bail.
Massachusetts State Police reported that they received a call around 2 a.m. Sunday regarding Delta flight 154, which had been diverted back to Logan Airport in Boston en route to Dublin due to the presence of an unruly passenger. Police identified Cherilus as the individual involved in the incident.
According to police, when officers instructed Cherilus to disembark from the plane, he became agitated and uncooperative. Eventually, he was escorted off and placed under arrest.
After the court session, Cherilus did not make any comments but later issued a statement via social media, attributing his actions to a sleeping medication he took due to the flight’s unexpected delay. He expressed remorse for his behavior, emphasizing that it was not characteristic of him.
In the police report, it was noted that Cherilus appeared intoxicated upon arriving at Logan Airport and had previously engaged in a disagreement with another passenger regarding seating. Approximately an hour into the flight, he allegedly approached an elderly woman, exposed himself, and urinated on her for about 20 seconds. Witnesses, including both passengers and flight crew members, were reportedly in shock and alarmed by his behavior, which also included him striking an elderly man upon returning to his seat.
Due to Cherilus’s size, standing 6 feet 6 inches and weighing around 280 pounds, officers had to use two sets of handcuffs to restrain him during his arrest. The incident is under federal investigation since it occurred over Canadian airspace.
Gosder Cherilus was drafted 17th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2008, following a successful college career. He played five seasons with the Lions, followed by stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2016.
A Delta Air Lines spokesperson stated that the airline has a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful behavior and will assist law enforcement with the investigation. Passengers affected by the incident were placed on another flight to Dublin.
Cherilus is scheduled to return to court on October 11.