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Home » American Airlines » A New Twist In Latest American Airlines Flight Attendant Assault Incident
American Airlines

A New Twist In Latest American Airlines Flight Attendant Assault Incident

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 3, 2021November 14, 2023 13 Comments

a group of surgeons in a operating room

There’s a new twist in the case of an American Airlines flight attendant who was brutally assaulted on a trip from New York to Orange Country, California. The passenger claims he had just had brain surgery and it was the flight attendant who instigated the brawl. As more facts unfold, it is important we consider the passenger’s side as well.

New Twist: Was American Airlines Passenger Recovering From Brain Surgery Simply Acting In Self-Defense?

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker called the incident “one of the worst displays we’ve ever seen” when a “passenger violently assaulted one our flight attendants.” He called for prosecution. And indeed, that’s a reasonable reaction (mine too) for a passenger who brazenly attacks a flight attendant.

But the passenger is telling a different story. He says:

  • He was traveling home from Rhode Island after having brain surgery, which became necessary after he was brutally assaulted in New York
  • When standing in the aisle, he “accidentally bumped” a flight attendant
  • The flight attendant “became agitated” and began swinging at him
  • Fearing his recently re-constrcuted head would be hit, he raised his hand in defense
  • The flight attendant hit her nose on his palm

However his mother, who was traveling with him, conceded that the brain injury has caused him to become more easily agitated (and experience dizziness).

This is a very different story than that of the flight attendant and coming forth from American Airlines, which said:

  • The passenger got up to use the lavatory, but all were occupied
  • The seatbelt light was also on and he was told to sit down
  • He responded by becoming agitated and attacking the flight attendant

Other passengers also claimed the man appeared intoxicated and one linked the issue to masks.

The tricky part of this story is that both stories are plausible. Neither one excuses the physical attack, but it certainly matters who “started” the fight and who threw the first punch.

I just find it very heard to believe that a flight attendant would start the fight…that is what de-escalation training is specifically intended to avoid. If a flight attendant actually started this, it makes the situation oh so much worse…and not in a way that reflects well upon American Airlines.


> Read More: Passenger Punches Flight Attendant On American Airlines Flight, Forcing Diversion
> Read More: Lip Service From American Airlines CEO Won’t Protect Flight Attendants From Bad Behavior Onboard


CONCLUSION

We will continue to monitor this story and update it accordingly…hopefully witnesses onboard will step forward to offer further insight. In the meantime, I don’t think it is reasonable to fully withhold judgment, but an interesting counterpoint has now been presented.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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13 Comments

  1. BlackHill Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 3:54 pm

    We live in a world where people especially those in social media want instant justice without evening knowing or understanding full facts. Its all about how they feel or view certain things vs what the truth is/was?

    • BlackHill Reply
      November 3, 2021 at 4:01 pm

      Imagine what happens when people start getting banned based on one side of the story(based on stories from authorities) and the other have to go to great extent to prove otherwise while wasting their time, cost and health. Unfortunately that’s where we are headed there.

  2. Derek Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    Agree with Matthew and wait for the facts to come out.

    It’s also possible that this was a misunderstanding. The FA may have thought she was being attacked, when there was an accidental bump due to dizziness. FA may have went to defend herself, causing the passenger to defend himself.

    I’m not passing judgement until we hear more of the facts. Yes, passengers have been acting poorly. Then again, the reviews of AA FAs and GAs have them instigating trouble, just like Matthew’s post from yesterday threatening to call the police on waiting passengers

    I think a more important question is why was he flying to begin with, given him being so prone to dizziness?

  3. Joe Chivas Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 4:31 pm

    Does it really matter what happened? Just put him on the new “no fly list” and be done with it.

    • Jackson Waterson Reply
      November 3, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      You mean the flight attendant?

  4. Stacy Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    It is honestly a regrettable fact that affects all parties, from the passenger, the flight attendant, and the airline who in the distance ends up being harmed by all the comments that may go on the air.
    However, it is a duty that all parties express their facts.
    But it is difficult to take sides in this situation, where all parties seem to be right and tell a very credible story.
    It must be investigated very carefully and without hurting either party as little as possible.

  5. John Cunningham Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 5:49 pm

    Very good point,,,, and probably closer to the truth than the airline would like for us to know… they treat there customers like dog poo and they have no choice but to take it ,,, or in this guys situation , be publicly shamed and banned without any rational investigation…

  6. Jackson Waterson Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 6:23 pm

    There are two sides to every story. People shouldn’t automatically believe flight attendants just like they shouldn’t automatically believe cops. Here we have a passenger recovering from brain surgery needed to fix damage from an attack. Aisles are so narrow any bump can be misinterpreted by either party. People have a right to defend themselves with deadly force if necessary to protect aGainst bodily harm no matter if it’s a flight attendant, a cop, or the pope who is attacking. If a flight attendant was swinging her arms near the man’s skull reconstruction, it is reasonable for him to use his hands to push her away. Maybe it’s time for video cameras facing only the aisles from front to back (so as to obscure what people are doing in their seats as the seat in front blocks the view). There is no evidence other than he said she said and each side is just as plausible as the other. There was a claim made that an independent witness said the man caused the incident but that is impossible to know as tight aisle space near the lavatory blocks the view.

    This flight attendant possibly should be charged with assault, interfering with a commercial aircraft operations, and aggravated harassment. Maybe she should be banned from the airline. Maybe the man should be given $10 million in damages by the airline and $10 million in damages from the government who falsely arrested him. Maybe the cop or agent who arrested him should be put in jail for 10x the time this man was or is in custody.

  7. John Q. Public Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    Matthew, maybe never mind the witness accounts. Wouldn’t this plane have a video camera, constantly running—and maybe even recording—what’s going on in the cabin? If so, then it seems like law enforcement, the FAA, and AA would know a lot more reliably what happened. Just my two cents. But I suspect you’ll know more about whether the plane would have video.

  8. Richard Johnson Reply
    November 3, 2021 at 11:27 pm

    There is absolutely no evidence of recent brain surgery in any of the photos I have seen of the passenger. There is no shaved head, no incision, not even a scar. Brain surgery – especially “reconstructive” — would leave some type of visible evidence.

    • HkCaGu Reply
      November 4, 2021 at 1:55 am

      According to your logic, there is also absolutely no evidence that the surgery did not happen. People having gone through something like that wouldn’t fly immediately after a surgery. They’d probably rest and recover for more than a month before they’d fly. By that time you’d not see any “evidence”. But one thing for sure, you don’t claim such a surgery to an FBI agent like that if it didn’t happen. A 20-year-old ethnic Chinese/Taiwanese from Irvine flying transcon on a weekday in late October with his mother? Totally fits what they’re claiming.

  9. Steve Reply
    November 4, 2021 at 4:59 am

    I think flight attendants would be bumped into 50 times a day. They don’t reply with an attack on passengers.

  10. Mark Reply
    November 4, 2021 at 8:35 am

    Were they the only 2 people on the plane? Willing to bet there are at least 50 witnesses one could subpoena to testify in court under oath. Not to mention a doctor who – if the brain surgery was that serious – needs to explain why he/she allowed the passenger to fly already in that condition …

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