Dominic Armando Cipolla, a Spirit Airlines pilot residing in Kansas City, was arrested in the state of Louisiana as part of an ongoing case involving accusations that he stalked minors. Following the incident, the airline announced that Cipolla had been removed from duty.
According to Spirit Airlines and court records, 40-year-old Cipolla was taken into custody by law enforcement in July while on duty at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. The arrest stemmed from an incident in August 2023 in the state of Kansas, where he allegedly followed two minors in a manner described as “reckless conduct causing fear.”
Complaint documents state that one of the children involved was under the age of 14, elevating one of the charges to a felony. Cipolla, who will be tried in Johnson County District Court, was released this week on a $12,500 bond.
Spirit Airlines released a statement saying:
“We are aware of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Cipolla’s arrest, though the matter is not directly related to his professional duties. However, he has been removed from service while our internal investigation is ongoing. A different pilot was assigned to operate the flight in question.”
Due to the ongoing legal process, the airline did not share further details regarding the investigation. As part of his release conditions, Cipolla is prohibited from leaving the state of Kansas or having any contact with minors without court approval.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Cipolla has worked as a first officer at Spirit Airlines since 2022.
In a related case, a Delta Air Lines pilot was recently arrested in the cockpit on separate child abuse charges.
