A Delta Air Lines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles diverted to Atlanta after a passenger allegedly slapped a flight attendant on the buttocks because she skipped him during beverage service. He now faces a federal charge.
Butt You Skipped Me! Delta Flight Diverts After Passenger Slaps Flight Attendant Over Missed Drink
A Delta Air Lines passenger has been indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly striking a flight attendant on the buttocks during beverage service, prompting the flight crew to divert the aircraft to Atlanta.
The incident occurred on May 9, 2026, onboard Delta flight DL800 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Los Angeles (LAX). According to court documents, Cody James Maluck, 32, of Indianapolis, was seated onboard the Airbus A321 when a flight attendant began beverage service.
The flight attendant, identified in court filings only as P.L.L., reportedly believed Maluck was asleep and passed him by. As she served another passenger nearby, she allegedly felt a slap to her buttocks area with enough force to move her body forward.
After turning around, she reportedly saw Maluck raising his hands and saying words to the effect of, “I didn’t do anything.”
A second flight attendant allegedly corroborated the account, saying she heard a yell and saw P.L.L.’s body move forward as if she had been struck or pushed. Beverage service was suspended and the lead flight attendant notified the pilots.
The flight diverted to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where Atlanta police met the aircraft at the gate. The FBI was also contacted (because the alleged conduct occurred onboard a commercial aircraft).
Maluck reportedly told investigators that he had been wearing headphones and did not hear the flight attendant ask whether he wanted a beverage. He allegedly admitted touching the flight attendant’s buttocks area, but denied slapping her hard enough to move her forward. He claimed he was only trying to get her attention.
Here’s a tip: that’s never a great way to get anyone’s attention…
A Missed Drink Is Not An Emergency
Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that Maluck’s version is true. Let’s assume he was wearing headphones, missed the drink service, and then realized the cart had moved past him.
Among his possibilities:
- Say, “Excuse me.”
- Wave politely
- Press the call button
- Wait until the flight attendant comes back
(or maybe You can live without a Diet Coke for a few minutes…)
What you cannot do is touch a flight attendant’s body, much less slap her backside, and then act surprised when the crew treats it as a serious incident.
Federal Charge For Interference With Flight Crew
Maluck was arrested in Atlanta and later indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of interference with flight crew members or attendants.
That charge is serious. It can carry significant penalties, including prison time, though an indictment is only an accusation and Maluck is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Delta issued a statement saying it has zero tolerance for disruptive or unruly behavior onboard its aircraft and will cooperate with law enforcement to protect its people. (I’d expect nothing less)
I do hope that this was indeed a hard slap and not just an inopportune tap. I’d like to think that a flight attendant, who unfortunately is touched all the time, would not make a huge deal over a rude passenger who did not mean any harm. Witness accounts testify it was a hard slap, through I question whether that required a diversion, especially if the passenger was apologetic.
CONCLUSION
A Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles diverted to Atlanta after a passenger allegedly slapped a flight attendant hard on the buttocks during beverage service. The passenger claims he was merely trying to get her attention after being skipped for a drink. Federal authorities apparently saw it differently.
There is no drink, snack, upgrade, seat assignment, or service issue that justifies putting your hands on a crewmember. If you are skipped during beverage service, press the call button. Do not touch the flight attendant. Even so, I question whether a diversion was required here…seems a bit overkill even if this was deliberate. Just arrest in him LaLa land….
Hat Tip: PYOK
“A Missed Drink Is Not An Emergency”
Exactly!
Why would the power trip crew divert?
Crews need to also be accountable for overacting.
You can arrest the perpetrator in LAX.
These needless overreacting diversions needs to end and people held accountable.
Eh, no, a missed drink is not an emergency, but a misbehaving passenger might be. It’s the crew’s call.
“Butt You Skipped Me!” … Oh, Matt… you have a way with words!
Are there actual diversion standards? Injury to no more than a flight attendant’s ego should be eligible for arrest but a diversion is too much.
This is coming from someone that has had their butt slapped and never thought more about it than getting different employment.
I get jaded sometimes and think that crews divert for the extra pay. It’s ridiculous to divert over something like this, IMO.
Yeah. Agree. I would be pissed as hell as the flight attendant, but don’t inconvenience everyone because of one asshole. Unless he seemed aggressive and it might escalate. I guess you had to be there to fully assess.
Meanwhile over at TSA they’re groping our elderly and children in much more sensitive areas, without reasonable suspicion, and everyone just accepts it as the norm.
Fort Lauderdale? Sounds like a guy missing Spirit.
Fraud Liquordale.
His mother must be so proud. But, yes, stupid reason to divert.
Totally stupid reason to divert – 100’s have to be inconvenienced because of some jerk who can’t behave like an adult (or even a child for that matter)? Just zip-tie him and arrest him at the destination. Sick of reading about these idiotic diversions for anything but a full blown emergency.
The diversion may have been an overreaction, but slapping a stranger on the butt to get their attention has never been acceptable. Keep your hands to yourself, unless someone has given you a clear invitation to touch them.