The recent flight from Houston to Newark had taken a chaotic turn after erratic behavior by one of the passengers led to an arrest and federal charges.
Mid-Flight Incident Escalates Dramatically
One such incident unfolded on June 12 on a United Airlines flight en route to Newark Liberty International Airport, involving a 38-year-old Kedus Yacob Damtew from Washington, D.C. According to police, Damtew grew increasingly agitated as the plane approached land.
In a number of reports from officials on the matter, Damtew began taking his shirt off, aggressively approached one of the attendants, pressed his bare chest against the attendant, and pushed him towards the aircraft exit door. An ominous act to threaten harm to them in such an audacious manner brought tension onto everyone aboard.
It was worse when Damtew reportedly punched an aircraft oven and continued hurling threats. He even threw a cup of water at the flight attendant. In response, he was subdued by flight attendants and several passengers.
They restrained Damtew with flex cuffs and moved him to the back of the aircraft for the safety of all on board. It was the vigilance of the flight crew assisted by passengers that helped in dissipating the situation without further harm.
Legal Consequences for the Disruptive Passenger
When Damtew arrived in the country, he was arrested and charged in U.S. District Court on one count of interference by assault or intimidation, a serious felony crime carrying a possible 20 years imprisonment and fine up to $250,000.
Damtew was released after an appearance in federal court in Washington, D.C., on December 10. The investigation has been led by the FBI, with assistance from the Port Authority Police Department-a reflection of just how seriously this case was regarded.
The airline said safety and order on all its flights were the number one priority while thanking the crew and passengers who managed the situation. This is a grim reminder of how grave the consequences can be in aviation for such disruptive behavior.
