A Beijing-bound Delta flight was forced to land back in Seattle on Thursday night after a passenger in first class allegedly assaulted a flight attendant, KOMO reports. The disturbance happened about 45 minutes into the flight.
According to CNN, the passenger attempted to open an exit door and was stopped by flight attendants and fellow passengers. He then allegedly attacked a flight attendant, punching her twice in the face, before hitting a passenger with a red wine bottle. A flight attendant then hit the unruly passenger over the head with two wine bottles, breaking at least one, according to CBS.
The man was "restrained on board and was removed from the flight by law enforcement without further incident," Delta said in a statement.
At least three people were injured during the alleged incident, including the flight attendant and another passenger. The alleged attacker was the third person injured, but he declined help from medical personnel after landing.
The FBI told the station they do not believe the incident was any kind of national security threat. The alleged assailant has been identified as Joseph Daniel Hudek IV, a 23-year-old man from Tampa, Florida.
In a hearing Friday Hudek was charged with interfering with a flight crew, which carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison or a $250,000 fine. A detention hearing is scheduled for July 13.
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