He vandalized the bathrooms on the plane during his U.S. deportation, and now finds out his fate

On Tuesday, January 20, a Spirit Airlines plane bound for Bogotá, Colombia, was forced to return to the gate after an unusual incident on board that ultimately led to the arrest of a Colombian national who was in the process of being deported.

The man, a 27-year-old identified by authorities as Eduardo José Restrepo Caballero, from Barranquilla, was under the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and was being deported to Colombia at the time of the incident.

According to official reports, minutes before takeoff Restrepo Caballero entered the rear lavatory of the aircraft and began damaging interior panels, while also clogging the toilet with large amounts of paper. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office added that he also spilled an unidentified liquid on the floor of the aircraft.

A flight attendant noticed the situation and ordered him to return to his seat. However, due to the extent of the damage caused, the pilot made the decision to taxi the plane back to the boarding gate. All passengers were then evacuated while maintenance crews inspected the aircraft and assessed the damage.

Deported Colombian now faces prosecution

Authorities estimate that the damage to the aircraft amounted to approximately $10,000, equivalent to more than 36 million Colombian pesos.

After being removed from the plane, Restrepo Caballero was arrested by law enforcement officers and taken back to a Broward County jail, where he had previously been held under immigration detention prior to the attempted deportation.

As a result of the incident, prosecutors have filed charges including felony criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. These offenses could carry a prison sentence in addition to a $2,650 bond, roughly equivalent to more than 9 million Colombian pesos, as well as a renewed immigration detainer.

Restrepo Caballero could ultimately face more than five years in prison if convicted on both federal and state charges, given the value of the material damage and the nature of the alleged offenses.

The case comes amid a broader rise in deportations from the United States to Colombia. In just the first seven months of last year, more than 19,400 Colombians were deported – a figure already approaching the total number recorded throughout all of 2024.

For now, there have been no public statements from the detainee’s family or from Colombian authorities. The incident has nevertheless sparked criticism on social media, with many users pointing to the stress and psychological pressure faced by people undergoing deportation.

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