Gosder Cherilus, a former NFL player and Boston College football standout, appeared in court on charges related to an incident on a Delta Air Lines flight. Cherilus, 40, from Wakefield, Massachusetts, is accused of urinating on another passenger during the flight, which was bound for Dublin, Ireland.
At his arraignment in East Boston District Court, Cherilus pleaded not guilty to several charges, including interfering with the operation of an aircraft, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. He was released on a $2,500 bail.
Massachusetts State Police were called to Logan Airport around 2 a.m. on Sunday after Delta flight 154 was diverted back to Boston due to what they described as an “unruly passenger.” Authorities identified Cherilus as the individual responsible for the disruption.
According to the police statement, troopers instructed Cherilus to disembark the aircraft, but he responded with anger and refused to cooperate. Eventually, officers escorted him off the plane and placed him in custody.
After leaving court on Monday, Cherilus did not speak to reporters but later posted a statement on social media, attributing his behavior to a sleeping medication he took in preparation for the flight. “The flight was unexpectedly delayed for approximately four hours… in preparation for the unexpected overnight flight, I took a sleeping medication that I don’t normally use, which resulted in behavior that is not representative of my character,” he stated, expressing his apologies to all affected.
According to the police report, Cherilus appeared to be under the influence of alcohol upon arriving at the airport and had a confrontation with another passenger before the flight departed. Investigators allege that about an hour into the flight, he exposed himself to an elderly woman and urinated for approximately 20 seconds, shocking both passengers and crew.
Additional allegations include that he struck an elderly man on his way back to his seat. Given his size—6 feet 6 inches and around 280 pounds—police reported that they required two sets of handcuffs to restrain him.
A federal investigation is also in progress, as the incident occurred over Canadian waters.
Cherilus was drafted 17th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2008 and played for several NFL teams, concluding his career in 2016. Delta Air Lines has stated that they have a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful behavior and will cooperate with law enforcement in this matter. Passengers affected by the incident were rebooked on another flight to Dublin.
Cherilus is scheduled to return to court on October 11.