CHICAGO- A United Airlines (UA) passenger faces serious legal consequences after allegedly assaulting a flight attendant during a flight from Houston (IAH) to Newark (EWR).
Kedus Yacob Damtew was arrested on Monday and charged with interfering with flight crew duties, a federal offense that carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
United Airlines Flight Attendant Assaulted
According to a criminal complaint filed in a New Jersey district court, the incident occurred on United Airlines flight UA2732 just before landing at Newark Liberty Airport on June 12, 2024. Prosecutors describe a startling sequence of events that unfolded in the aircraft’s front galley, PYOK reported.
Damtew initially engaged the flight attendant in conversation before unexpectedly removing his shirt. He then allegedly escalated the situation by forcefully pushing his bare chest against the crew member, pinning her against the aircraft’s exit door. During this confrontation, Damtew reportedly shouted threats and epithets directly into her face.
The flight attendant ultimately managed to escape from Damtew, with witnesses noting that her face was covered in saliva from his aggressive screaming. She sought help from other crew members at the rear of the aircraft.
Violent Unruly Passenger
After catching up with her, Damtew continued shouting threats and threw a cup of water at the crew member.
A rear cabin flight attendant recognized the severity of the situation and used the plane’s public address system to call for help. The urgent call alerted a third crew member and several passengers who quickly responded to assist.
Flight attendants and passengers successfully restrained Damtew using flex cuffs. However, his continued resistance during the final approach and landing in Newark created additional safety challenges. The crew could not properly secure the cabin or galley, leaving one emergency exit unattended.
US airlines reported 200 unruly passenger incidents to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in June.
According to the FAA Unruly Passenger Statistics, as of December 8, 2024, there are 1,954 unruly passenger incidents in 2024
The FAA possesses robust enforcement mechanisms against disruptive passengers. Civil penalties can reach $37,000 per violation, with multiple violations potentially increasing the total financial consequences for offenders.
In response to the pandemic-era surge in passenger misconduct, the FAA implemented a zero-tolerance campaign. This initiative has successfully reduced reported incidents by 80%, though the agency continues to emphasize that unruly passenger reports remain concerningly frequent.
Since late 2021, the FAA has referred more than 300 serious cases to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution. The most recent referral occurred in August when the agency asked the FBI to investigate 43 additional unruly passenger cases.
Similar Incident
A male passenger on Korean Air (KE) flight KE658 from Bangkok to Seoul attempted to open an emergency exit mid-flight on November 8, 2024, triggering a dramatic intervention by flight crew and passengers.
Passenger Jackson Lee captured the nine-second incident on TikTok, showing the passenger in a white T-shirt repeatedly trying to turn the emergency exit door handle. The footage reveals a tense moment as the man pointed his phone at the cabin crew and reached for the exit latch.
A female crew member quickly intervened, initiating a physical struggle. Other crew members and a male passenger immediately assisted in restraining the aggressive passenger, preventing a potential mid-flight disaster.
The incident reportedly occurred within an hour of takeoff on the Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Upon landing at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, authorities took the passenger into custody for further investigation.
Korean Air confirmed the passenger exhibited non-compliant behavior, including verbal aggression and threatening gestures. The airline emphasized that the situation was managed according to established security protocols, prioritizing passenger safety and operational integrity.
Featured Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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