American Airlines plane.Photo: Robert Alexander/Getty
A cross-country American Airlines flight was diverted on Wednesday after a passenger allegedly attacked one of the flight attendants.
American Airlines Flight 976 out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York traveling to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, was forced to stop in Denver, Colorado, after a passenger allegedly attacked a flight attendant when the plane was over Ohio.
A spokesperson for American Airlines said that they will pursue charges against the passenger, who has beenbanned from traveling on the airline.
“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,” the statement continues. “This behavior must stopand aggressive enforcement and prosecution of the law is the best deterrent.”
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“We thank our crew for their quick action and professionalism to ensure the safety of their fellow team members and customers on board,” the statement concludes. “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.”
While another passenger told CBS Los Angeles that she believed the assault was related to therequirement to wear a mask on airplanes, American Airlines says there was no information to suggest it was related.
An American Airlines spokesperson tells PEOPLE, “We have no information suggesting it was related to mask compliance.”
Passenger Mackenzie Rose told CBS Los Angeles that the suspect allegedly punched the flight attendant twice.
“I understand that he actually punched her twice. I did see her walk back down the aisle afterwards. She had blood splattered on the outside of her mask,” Rose said.
source: people.com
