American Airlines flight attendant punched, officers assaulted, police say

Nick Robertson
·1 min read
11

A man assaulted an American Airlines flight attendant and later kicked and spit on police officers last week during a rowdy flight that was diverted to Amarillo, Texas, according to criminal complaint submitted by the FBI.

Keith Fagiana started an argument with a fight attendant during a flight on Jan. 3 from Dallas to Bozeman, Mont. last week, “yelling expletives” after he was asked to stop kicking the seat in front of him. Fagiana then punched the flight attendant multiple times before being restrained by nearby passengers and crew in flex cuffs, per the complaint.

When police took Fagiana off the plane in Amarillo, he complained of the cuffs hurting him and then kicked an officer in the groin and spit on another before while the cuffs were being changed, the complaint alleges.

He was charged with interference with a flight crew, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Fagiana later told police that he could not recall the altercation, claiming that had been drinking “some ‘Captain Morgans’ at different bars in Las Vegas before the flight.” He did admit to fighting with police while at the Amarillo airport.

“Acts of violence are not tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation,” the airline said in a statement.

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