A passenger who allegedly punched a flight attendant in the back of the head on an American Airlines flight from Mexico to Los Angeles was detained after the plane landed on Wednesday, CBS Los Angeles reports.
The incident occurred on Flight 377 from San Jose del Cabo to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the airline said in a statement.
The FBI said the man was in custody on suspicion of interfering with the flight crew, a federal crime.
Video taken by a passenger shows the flight attendant standing in the aisle, facing the back of the plane, asking a passenger: “Are you threatening me, are you threatening me?” He then turns and starts walking towards the front of the plane.
Just then, a passenger charged at him, punched him hard, and returned to his seat.
Malik Earnest, a producer for CBS San Diego’s KFMB-TV, quoted “witnesses” on board that other passengers “helped restrain” the suspect until the plane landed. He was taken off the plane by Los Angeles airport police.
His identity was not immediately released.
American Airlines issued a statement saying the passenger “personally assaulted a flight attendant” and “will never be allowed to travel with us in the future.”
