CNN
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An American Airways flight was diverted to a Texas airport mid-flight this week after a passenger punched a flight attendant a number of instances and assaulted no less than one police officer, based on 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 Stage 2 risk resulting from a bodily assault, the prison criticism filed in US District Courtroom 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 stated.
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 instances by Fagiana earlier than different passengers helped to bodily restrain him, the criticism stated. 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 have been hurting him, so officers modified out the restraints with metal handcuffs.
“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 preventing with police officers after being faraway from the plane as a result of he didn’t need to be arrested, the criticism stated.
He additionally claimed he didn’t bear in mind something that occurred on the flight and stated he had drunk some “Captain Morgans” at completely different bars earlier than the flight, paperwork say.
The flight continued its trek and left the Amarillo airport shortly after, based on a press release from American Airways.
“Acts of violence usually are not tolerated by American Airways and we’re dedicated to working intently with regulation 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.