Passenger charged in Los Angeles after allegedly punching American Airways flight attendant

A person who was caught on video punching a flight attendant behind the pinnacle throughout an American Airways flight was arrested after the airplane landed in Los Angeles.

Authorities charged Alexander Tung Cuu Le on Thursday (Friday AEST) with interfering with a flight crew. Le, of Westminster, California, faces as much as 20 years in jail if convicted.

The incident occurred Wednesday on a flight from San Jose del Cabo in Mexico to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport.

Video posted by one other passenger confirmed a person working up behind a male flight attendant and punching him because the crew member walked within the different course.

Based on an FBI agent’s affidavit, shortly after takeoff Le grabbed one other flight attendant by the shoulders and requested for espresso. He was instructed to attend.

When Le, 33, moved from the again of the airplane to an open seat close to the first-class cabin, the male flight attendant requested him to return to his assigned seat.

As an alternative, Le stood in a two-fisted preventing stance and swung an arm on the crew member however missed, in accordance with the affidavit.

The flight attendant was on his solution to report the incident to the pilot when he was struck behind the pinnacle.

A number of passengers “apprehended” Le and cuffed his arms and legs with restraints supplied by a unique flight attendant, in accordance with the FBI agent.

The injured flight attendant, who spent the remainder of the flight with an ice bag on his head, was taken to a hospital.

The president of the Affiliation of Skilled Flight Attendants, the union representing American’s cabin crews, mentioned the passenger had exhibited “harmful, life-threatening conduct.”

“Fortunately, the crew and passengers subdued the passenger, and the flight landed safely,” mentioned the union official, Julie Hedrick.

“This violent conduct places the security of all passengers and crew in jeopardy and should cease.”

Airline spokesman Curtis Blessing mentioned American has banned the person from ever touring on the airline. He mentioned American was serving to regulation enforcement examine the incident.

Based on Federal Aviation Administration figures, airways have reported practically 2,000 incidents involving unruly passengers this 12 months, down from practically 6,000 final 12 months even with a 38 per cent improve in US air vacationers.

Many of the incidents in 2021 and early 2022 concerned passengers who refused to put on face masks, however the federal requirement for masks on planes and public transportation was struck down by a federal decide in April.

Authorities figures do not point out how typically the incidents flip violent, though it seems to be uncommon.

Essentially the most infamous case concerned a younger lady who punched a Southwest flight attendant, breaking a few of her tooth, on a airplane in California. The girl was sentenced to fifteen months in jail.