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Home » American Express » Passenger Punches Flight Attendant On American Airlines Flight, Forcing Diversion
American Express

Passenger Punches Flight Attendant On American Airlines Flight, Forcing Diversion

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 28, 2021November 14, 2023 26 Comments

In another incident fueled by alcohol and masks, a premium-heavy American Airlines flight headed to Orange County, California was forced to divert after a crazed man physically attacked a flight attendant.

Passenger Punches Flight Attendant On American Airlines In Altercation Fueled By Masks And Alcohol

American Airlines Flight 976 was traveling from New York (JFK) to Orange County (SNA) on Wednesday evening, departing Kennedy at 4:29pm local time and utilizing an Airbus A321 with 10 seats in first class, 20 in business class, and 72 in economy class. But at 6:38pm mountain time, the plane made an unscheduled stop in Denver. Passengers described what occurred:

  • The man refused to wear a mask and appeared to be inebriated with alcohol
  • A confrontation with a flight attendant over his mask led to him striking the flight attendant at least twice
  • Blood was seen on the mask of the flight attendant
  • Because the man would not calm down, he was duct-taped to his seat
  • A doctor onboard examined the flight attendant and determined her nose was not broken
  • The flight attendant was still taken to a Denver-area hospital as a precautionary measure

A passenger named Mackenzie Rose snapped the following photograph of the suspected unruly passenger in Denver:

a man wearing a face mask sitting on a bench

The man was arrested and not only is banned from American Airlines, but faces a huge fine and jail time for assaulting a flight attendant. An American Airlines spokesperson added:

We are outraged by the reports of what took place on board. Acts of violence against our team members will not be tolerated by American Airlines. We have engaged local law enforcement and the FBI and we are working with them to ensure they have all the information they need. The individual involved in this incident will never be allowed to travel with American Airlines in the future, but we will not be satisfied until he has been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This behavior must stop, and aggressive enforcement and prosecution of the law is the best deterrent.

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 ensuring that she and her fellow crew members have the support they need at this time.

It isn’t clear what cabin the passenger was flying in and whether the alcohol was served onboard or if he brought it himself.

The move is sure to increase calls for American Airlines to continue to abstain from alcohol sales onboard, though other airlines seem to serve alcohol without nearly the number of incidents reported on American Airlines. Currently, American has said alcohol sales in economy class will not resume until the federal mask mandate is lifted.

CONCLUSION

Another horrible incident on American Airlines, this time on a cross-country flight to Southern California. We can only hope for one thing if we want these sorts of incidents to stop: the passenger must be held accountable for his actions with both prison time or community service and a huge fine.

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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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26 Comments

  1. Joe Chivas Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 11:57 am

    Stop Asian Hate

    • 121Pilot Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 3:55 pm

      How is this Asian Hate?

      • Desertfox Reply
        October 28, 2021 at 4:45 pm

        I think (hope) Joe was being sarcastic…….

  2. Babblespeak Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 12:41 pm

    Another loser with no self control resorts to physical violence in response to mild discomfort. So the rest of us have to have alcohol taken away from us because these assholes can’t control themselves. Make an example out of him to the rest of the anti mask, “rules aren’t for me” knuckle draggers. Throw away the key.

    • GetReal Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      You can fly United where alcohol is served. In fact, liquor sales will resume in the economy cabin mid-November.

    • A RODRIGUEZ-RICH Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 8:31 pm

      A…….MEN!

  3. William Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 1:36 pm

    This is unbelievable – they’re using the 321Ts to SNA?

  4. DavidM Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    But will he actually be punished, other than being banned from AA? Was the person arrested after being removed from the plane in Denver? In so many of these cases, one never hears about the end results – arrest, court, fines. etc. Threatening to punish someone for such an incident, and actually doing so are two different things. Without the latter, there is no deterrence.

  5. Dave Edwards Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    What don’t these idiots understand? I’m as anti mask as they come but I understand if I want to fly I have to wear one. And everyone knows this. Hopefully the assault is fully charged and there are other teal life consequences for the guy.

    I’m not a cancel culture guy but decent people that know this guy should remove him from their lives until he serves his punishment and gets rehab or help for his issues.

    • A RODRIGUEZ-RICH Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 8:33 pm

      SEEING a

  6. JohnnyBPDX Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    How about banning anyone who acts out from ALL US carriers after a review of the incident by a some sort of body of folks representing the airlines?

  7. PapaJeff Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    This pathetic excuse for a man (and any man who strikes a woman) should not only be banned from flying on American Airlines… he should be banned from flying on ALL Airlines! Would you want to sit next to someone like this?

    • Tim Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      honestly

      If I had been sitting anywhere near this passenger I would have knocked him back to 2001 after he attached the F/A

  8. Desertfox Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    Why just banned on AA? Why not added to the NO FLY list so he cant pull the same stunt on another carrier. Airlines need to have just 1 Banned list that they all contribute to.

  9. DC not in DC Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    Meanwhile, on my United flight IAH-LAX yesterday, two females seated in 5A and 5 B (First Class) never wore masks during boarding, while onboard, walking to and from the lavatory, and on deplaning. I was seated across the aisle in 6E.

    I fly three to five times per week on United and have stopped asking United flight attendants why they never confront passengers in First Class who refuse to wear masks. They occasionally make a general announcement using the microphone.

    I am not sure what happens in United Economy. Maybe United just doesn’t confront FC pax.

  10. Tom Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 6:35 pm

    I love mob justice. We should strip the guy naked and stone him in the streets. Pitchforks and torches blazin through the night sky. Gets me all giddy! Let’s burn this mother down!!!

    • A RODRIGUEZ-RICH Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 8:37 pm

      Lord Hav MerCy!

    • JohnnyBPDX Reply
      October 29, 2021 at 1:39 pm

      Not mob justice, this guy and others like him who act like this should be put on the no-fly list AFTER a proper trial. The no fly list is part of the punishment.

  11. Mark Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    Until the courts and law enforcement get more serious about filing numerous charges, high or no bail and maximum sentences, offenders will not take it seriously. These people should be banned from all airlines.

    • Tim Reply
      October 28, 2021 at 6:51 pm

      I 100% agree !!

    • burritomiles Reply
      October 29, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      Death penalty never stopped people from murdering each other so IDK if that will work.

  12. Tim Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    Greetings all,

    Assuming that the facts are as stated it’s time to really up the bad behaviour punishment on aircraft in my opinion. I would advocate for the perpetrator of this crime to have the following;

    $ 50K fine – Proceeds shared between the Airline – The F/A and Alcoholics Anonymous
    1000 Hours of Community Service – To Learn that you can’t treat other people with lack of respect
    Perhaps Jail time or a suspected sentence – Would depend on any past history of similar behaviour
    A letter of apology and remorse written to the Airline, the flight crew and the specific Flight Attendant
    A 10 year ban from ANY Commercial flights anywhere on the planet – An appeal to the FAA only after all of the above completed and it deemed an emergency.

    This kind of outrageous behaviour needs to stop.

    Sincerely

    Tim Ames

  13. Adam W. Reply
    October 28, 2021 at 11:59 pm

    https://abc7.com/flight-attendant-who-was-punched-had-accidentally-bumped-passenger/11177340/

    While some had speculated that the assault was related to a mask violation, ABC News has learned that it started when the female flight attendant accidently bumped the first class passenger earlier in the flight and quickly apologized.
    Later on, the passenger walked to the back of the plane and punched the flight attendant twice in the face, breaking her nose. The passenger then returned to his seat as if nothing happened.

  14. Robb Reply
    October 29, 2021 at 5:34 pm

    He should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law! There needs to be a NATIONAL Do Not Fly List that’s shared between ALL AIRLINES, both domestic and international carriers as well as Amtrak and motor coach companies. These people should be banned period and relegated to driving their own cars. Enough is enough already

  15. DFWSteve Reply
    October 30, 2021 at 2:50 pm

    This is easy to fix. Any incident involving physical or verbal abuse of pax or employees results in the following:
    A) a minimum of 14 days in jail. No bail.
    B) permanently barred from entering any USA commercial airport A violation of results in 6 months in jail. No bail.
    C) lifetime no-fly listing
    We shall see if the current administration is willing to implement these changes or if they prefer to allow this madness to continue.

  16. David Walton Reply
    October 31, 2021 at 3:27 am

    I would like this guy to meet my wife….when he’s drunk

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