An American Airlines flight from New York to Orange County, California, exterior Los Angeles, was diverted to Denver Wednesday after a passenger allegedly assaulted a feminine flight attendant in what witnesses describe as a dispute over wearing a mask.
The provider says it is “outraged.”
American says Flight 976 from John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport to John Wayne Airport, in Santa Ana, was diverted “due to a passenger who physically assaulted a flight attendant. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate, where law enforcement removed and apprehended the passenger.”
The Federal Aviation Administration says the airplane landed at 6:37 p.m. Denver time, including that it’ll examine.
One passenger, Mackenzie Rose, told CBS Los Angeles the incident occurred about midway by way of the flight, when the airplane was over Ohio. The passenger suspected of assaulting the flight attendant was apparently in first or enterprise class.
A number of witnesses advised the station the incident was over wearing a mask. Rose offered CBS L.A. with what she mentioned is a photograph of the person in Denver Worldwide Airport:
Rose advised the station the flight attendant had blood on her after the assault.
“I saw her walk by and she had blood on the outside of her mask, which bless her, she was still wearing,” Rose mentioned.
In an announcement, American mentioned it is outraged by the reviews of what came about on board. Acts of violence in opposition to our staff members will not be tolerated by American Airlines. We’ve engaged native regulation enforcement and the FBI and we’re working with them to make sure they’ve all the data they want. The person concerned in this incident won’t ever be allowed to journey with American Airlines in the long run, however we is not going to be happy till he has been prosecuted to the complete extent of the regulation.”
The flight attendant was taken to a neighborhood hospital, CBS L.A. reviews, however the airline mentioned it could not remark any additional on her situation as a result of privateness issues.
No different accidents have been reported. The suspect’s identify wasn’t launched. The airplane continued to Santa Ana, the place it arrived Wednesday night time.
Unruly passenger conduct on planes has been growing since journey re-opened after the early levels of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FAA has acquired nearly 5,000 reviews of such conduct this 12 months, and greater than 215 circumstances ended with penalties, according to CBS Denver. Violence in opposition to airline workers is federal offense, CBS L.A. factors out.
