An American Airlines passenger has been arrested and banned for life after he was filmed punching a flight attendant on a flight from Mexico to California.
Alexander Tung Ko Low, of Orange County; He was arrested on Wednesday after the plane landed in Los Angeles. CBS news reports.
The 33-year-old man could face up to 20 years in federal prison after the assault According to the US Department of Justice, the flight attendant.
Lee was also banned from traveling American Airlines indefinitely
The incident reportedly began shortly after takeoff, when Le allegedly grabbed another flight attendant by the shoulders and asked for coffee and was told to wait. The situation escalated minutes later after the flight staff were barred from using the first class bathroom.
The incident started after the angry passengers were prevented from using the first class bathroom by the flight staff.
The video shows Lowe rushing up behind the unsuspecting maid before unleashing a haymaker on the back of the man’s head, which was facing the opposite direction when the sucker punched him.
✈️ Banned for Life: Watching an airline passenger allegedly upset that he wasn’t allowed to use 1st class, punch a flight attendant in the back. He was removed from the plane with his hands in zip ties and banned from American Airlines for life. pic.twitter.com/bVebWWc8Xd
— HLN (@HLNTV) September 23, 2022
Witnesses say Lee began behaving erratically within 20 minutes of departing Los Cabos International Airport, reportedly roaming the length of the plane and away from his seat, as well as threatening violence against flight attendants.
His behavior eventually escalated into actual violence with a punch to the back of the officer’s head, a video of which was widely shared on social media.
Lee was detained and arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation upon landing and charged with interfering with the flight crew, according to a report filed by the company against him. He was pictured in zipped arm shackles as authorities escorted him off the grounded plane upon arrival at LAX.
The Irate passenger was detained by the FBI upon landing and banned from American Airlines for life
The airline released a statement on Thursday, the same day Lu was scheduled to appear in court on the charges, announcing that he would be permanently banned from flying with the airline again.
“Acts of violence against our team members are not tolerated by American Airlines,” the statement said. The person involved in this incident will never be allowed to travel with us in the future and we will cooperate closely with law enforcement in their investigation.
Alexander Tung Ko Lo, 33, of Orange County, #California A person can face up to 20 years in federal prison after assault @AmericanAir According to the flight attendant @TheJusticeDept. Lee was banned from traveling #American Unlimited air. pic.twitter.com/h6seRKAkIm
– BNN Newsroom (@BNNBreaking) September 23, 2022
American Airlines thanked other crew members and passengers who jumped to restrain the pilot as he landed at LAX.
“We thank our crew for their prompt action and professionalism to ensure the safety of our team members and customers on board,” the statement continued. Our thoughts are with the injured flight attendant and we are making sure they and the rest of the crew get the support they need at this time.
The attack comes amid a decline in incidents involving unruly passengers, Federal Aviation Administration statistics show
This year alone, airlines have reported more than 2,000 incidents involving unruly passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
That number is actually down from nearly 6,000 last year, even with a 38 percent increase in U.S. air travel. ABC 6 Action News.
Most of the incidents last year involved passengers who refused to wear masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in April, a federal judge threw out a federal warrant for the mask on the plane.
While many of these incidents rarely turn violent, there are significant cases of attacks on flight attendants mid-flight.
A young lady recently made headlines for punching a Southwest flight attendant and breaking several of his teeth. That woman was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
