An American Airways flight was diverted to a Texas airport mid-flight this week after a passenger punched a flight attendant a number of occasions and assaulted not less than one police officer, in response to court docket paperwork.
The airplane, which was headed to Bozeman, Montana, from Dallas, landed at an airport in Amarillo on Wednesday after the flight crew declared a Degree 2 risk resulting from a bodily assault, the felony criticism filed in US District Court docket for the Northern District of Texas states, citing an affidavit from an FBI agent concerned within the arrest.
Keith Edward Fagiana, 61, was escorted off the airplane – American Airways flight 1497 – by police and charged with interference with a flight crew, the criticism mentioned.
The incident began when a passenger complained Fagiana was violently kicking their chair, court docket paperwork say. Fagiana then “yelled expletives” at a flight attendant who requested him to not kick the chair, the criticism says. He then punched the flight attendant within the abdomen, the paperwork say.
The flight attendant was punched three extra occasions by Fagiana earlier than different passengers helped to bodily restrain him, the criticism mentioned. The flight attendant used flex cuffs to restrain him and buckled him in a seat to attend for police upon touchdown, the paperwork state.
Police entered the plane after it landed on the Rick Husband Amarillo Worldwide Airport and escorted Fagiana off the airplane, paperwork say. He complained the flex cuffs had been hurting him, so officers modified out the restraints with metal handcuffs.
Keith Edward Fagiana’s reserving picture. – Randall County Sheriff’s Workplace
“Whereas altering out handcuffs, Fagiana kicked one of many Amarillo Airport Police Officers within the groin space and spit on escorting officers,” the paperwork say.
Throughout a police interview, Fagiana admitted to combating with police officers after being faraway from the plane as a result of he didn’t need to be arrested, the criticism mentioned.
He additionally claimed he didn’t bear in mind something that occurred on the flight and mentioned he had drunk some “Captain Morgans” at totally different bars earlier than the flight, paperwork say.
The flight continued its trek and left the Amarillo airport shortly after, in response to a press release from American Airways.
“Acts of violence should not tolerated by American Airways and we’re dedicated to working intently with legislation enforcement of their investigation,” the assertion reads.
CNN was unable to find out if Fagiana has obtained authorized illustration as of Friday.
CNN’s Sara Sensible and Asher Moskowitz contributed to this report.
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