An American Airlines flight attendant was struck on the back of the head by an irate passenger in a dispute over seating on a flight to Los Angeles. The suspect has now been charged and if convicted, faces up to 20 years behind bars.
American Airlines Flight Attendant Violently Struck On Head – Passenger IDed and Charged
In a jarring video, a man can be seen walking back to economy class onboard an American Airlines Airbus A321, then turning around, running up to a flight attendant, and striking him on the back of the head.
Violence in the air: a friend was travelling from Cabo to LAX, when a passenger hit a flight attendant for not letting use him the first class bathroom. He was later restrained by other passengers and arrested upon touchdown. The video shot was by Barrie Livingstone pic.twitter.com/PntVqWyWs9
— Saad Mohseni (@saadmohseni) September 22, 2022
The passenger has been identified as Alexander Tung Cuu Le, a 33-year-old man who lives in Orange County, California.
The incident occurred on September 21, 2022 on American Airlines flight 377 from San José del Cabo (SJD) to Los Angeles (LAX). Although it was first claimed that the incident occurred when the flight attendant stopped the passenger from using a first class lavatory, a Department of Justice report suggests:
- Le grabbed one flight attendant’s left shoulder from behind and asked for coffee
- Moments later, Le grabbed both of the flight attendant’s shoulders from behind
- After the flight attendant stepped back and put up a defensive posture, Le walked to the front of the airplane
- Le then allegedly loitered near the first-class cabin and then sat in an unoccupied aisle near the wall dividing the first-class cabin and the main cabin of the aircraft
- A different flight attendant approached Le and requested that Le return to his assigned seat
- Le did not comply and allegedly stood up and assumed a fighting stance towards the flight attendant by making closed fists with both of his hands
- Around this time, Le allegedly swung his arm at the flight attendant and missed
- The flight attendant decided to report Le’s behavior to the pilot, turned away from Le and walked towards the front of the airplane
- At this time, Le rushed toward the flight attendant and punched him in the back of the head
After the incident, passengers restrained the man while the crew zip-tied to his seat. He was arrested upon landing at LAX.
Hey @AmericanAir just checking to see if the flight attendant that this guy king hit in the back of the head is ok #aa377 pic.twitter.com/Ouin9JN1qd
— Smallzy 🎧 (@Smallzy) September 22, 2022
An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed a lifetime flight ban:
“Acts of violence against our team members are not tolerated by American Airlines. The individual involved in this incident will never be allowed to travel with us in the future, and we will work closely with law enforcement in their investigation.
“We thank our crew for their quick action and professionalism to ensure the safety of their fellow team members and customers on board. Our thoughts are with our injured flight attendant, and we are ensuring that they and their fellow crew members have the support they need at this time.”
Le has been charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, and now faces up to 20 years in prison and a huge fine.
The FBI has also launched an investigation.
CONCLUSION
The number of violent incidents has dropped since the mask mandate was lifted, but extreme instances of violence, as we witnessed here, are still happening. Le’s actions are deplorable and while it seems he did not resist being ziptied for the remainder of the flight, that will hardly mitigate the consequences of his poor choices onboard.
“Poor choices”? This euphemism is more appropriate to someone who chooses chocolate cake instead of fruit. It’s just violent behavior.
Choosing fruit over chocolate is definitely a bad choice.
Up to 20 years? That could mean far less with a capable attorney, clean prior, plea deal etc. Le demonstrated aggressive violent behavior. Chances are this was not his first rodeo with the law. Let’s hope it’s the last.
We had the fat, ugly, blonde dude telling people in his rallies to beat people up. And half the US loved it. Some people did end up beating some others. This guy probably is a symptom of the general lawlessness that fat dude brought upon this country.
This is a momentary lapse of judgment when you get very angry because of other things in your life about which you are angry and you take it out on someone or something and now the rest of your life is screwed. That fat, ugly , blonde dude has screwed up too many lives.
“People who annoy you” please.
People are responsible for their own actions. That hatred toward someone who had ZERO effect on your life is eating you up.
Trump was right.
I think you mean 13% of the population that rioted and looted for months in addition to its regular and constant violent attacks that have happened for 60 years. 13% of the population commits 58% of the violent crimes. Every school, neighborhood, and business with that 13% of the population faces torture, hardship, and pain.
Normal people should be angry the above ruin every peace we have in addition to 40 million illegals and their kids who wreck havoc.
Good work bringing politics into a completely unrelated topic douchebag… ;o)
Hope the FA and American Airlines take legal
action too. Kudos to the FA for not reacting. This dude needs a cell for a long time.
Why aren’t they carrying tasers?
No excuse. This is one instance where I hope the authorities throw the book at the guy.