SAN FRANCISCO- A Florida man attacked a fellow passenger without warning on a cross-country flight operated by United Airlines (UA) from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington, D.C. (IAD), on Monday (October 28, 2024), according to a federal agent’s account.
The assault, which lasted about one minute, left the victim—who was reportedly asleep—bloody and defenseless, an FBI special agent stated in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Florida Man Assaults Passenger on Flight
The agent described blood from the victim’s head and face spattering onto the suspect’s lime green windbreaker, as well as nearby seats, walls, and windows.
The victim’s screams drew the attention of another passenger who intervened, subduing the attacker and restraining him for the remaining three hours of the flight, the agent detailed.
The accused, identified as Florida resident Everett Chad Nelson, now faces federal assault charges. The victim’s identity remains confidential, and attempts to reach Nelson’s court-appointed public defender were unsuccessful. Nelson’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 11.
At 9:26 a.m., the FBI received an alert from the Transportation Security Administration reporting a disturbance aboard a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Dulles Airport, Virginia, according to court records.
The affidavit details that Everett Chad Nelson, seated near the back of the 82-seat plane, had just left the restroom about two hours into the five-hour flight when he stopped at the 12th row and began attacking a sleeping passenger. The FBI agent reported that Nelson struck the victim’s face and head repeatedly, drawing blood.
Official Remarks
The victim sustained bruising around his eyes and a cut on his nose. Another passenger intervened, halting the assault, and a doctor on board provided medical attention to the injured man, United Airlines media relations confirmed with the Los Angeles Times.
Nelson was then escorted to the front of the plane, where the bystander who had restrained him continued to monitor him until landing.
United Airlines confirmed in a statement that crew members and passengers swiftly restrained a man who became physically aggressive toward another passenger.
The airline reported that the flight arrived on time, and paramedics and law enforcement were waiting at the gate.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also announced an independent investigation into the incident. The FAA on its unruly passenger data report page has stated that there are around 1,750 such incidents.
However, it is still significantly down compared to the peak of 5,974 in 2021.
Feature Image by Zach, a NYC Spotter (@jfk.spotting)
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