Flight Attendant Attacked By Passenger, Flight From New York’s JFK To John Wayne Airport Diverts To Denver

SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — An American Airlines formation from John F. Kennedy International Airport successful New York connected its mode to John Wayne Airport successful Orange County Wednesday evening diverted to Denver International aft a rider assaulted a pistillate formation attendant.

Mackenzie Rose, different rider connected the flight, told CBSLA that the incidental occurred astir halfway done the trip, erstwhile the level was implicit Ohio. The rider suspected of assaulting the formation attendant was reportedly successful archetypal oregon concern class.

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The formation attendant, though, did person humor connected her aft the assault, according to Rose.

“I saw her locomotion by and she had humor connected the extracurricular of her mask, which bless her, she was inactive wearing,” she said.

According to the airline, AA Flight 976 was capable to taxi safely to the gross wherever instrumentality enforcement removed the passenger.

American Americans told CBS News Thursday that they bash not judge the onslaught was mask-related, arsenic 1 rider had told CBSLA it mightiness be.

American Airlines provided CBSLA the pursuing connection Wednesday evening:

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“We are outraged by the reports of what took spot connected board. Acts of unit against our squad members are not tolerated by American Airlines. We person engaged section instrumentality enforcement and the FBI  and we are moving with them to guarantee they person each the accusation they need. The idiosyncratic progressive successful this incidental volition ne'er beryllium allowed to question with American Airlines successful the future, but we volition not beryllium satisfied until helium has been prosecuted to the afloat grade of the law. This behaviour indispensable halt and assertive enforcement and prosecution of the instrumentality is the champion deterent. 

We convey our unit for their speedy enactment and professionalism to guarantee the information of their chap squad members and customers connected board. Our thoughts are with our injured formation attendant and ensuring that she and her chap unit members person the enactment they request astatine this time.”

The Federal Aviation Administration besides issued a connection noting the incidental and said the craft landed safely successful Denver astatine astir 6:37 p.m. Mountain time, adding that the bureau volition analyse the matter. The FBI is besides investigating.

Rose told CBSLA she believed the incidental whitethorn person been mask-related.

“I recognize that helium really punched her twice,” Rose said. “I did spot her locomotion backmost down the aisle afterwards. She had humor splattered connected the extracurricular of her mask. If you’re not prepared to deterioration a mask, you’re not prepared to alert is benignant of the motivation of the story. That was wherefore she was angered, was because….there was an content that determination mightiness beryllium a substance oregon intoxicant involved. In presumption of men hitting women, it’s perfectly absurd and ridiculous.”

Another passenger, identified lone arsenic Jack, said a doc aboard the formation did look astatine the formation attendant aft the assault.

“Yeah, determination was a doc connected the flight, luckily. So, I don’t know. He said it wasn’t broken, but it was bleeding, truthful they took her to the hospital,” helium said.

The formation attendant who suffered the battle was transported to a section hospital, though the hose said it could not remark immoderate further connected her information for privateness reasons.

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No different injuries were reported, nor was the suspect’s sanction released.