NEED TO KNOW
- Julius Jordan Priester, 24, was charged after allegedly attacking a flight attendant mid-flight
- The disturbance led to the plane being diverted back to Bradley International Airport
- Priester faces federal charges for assaulting a crew member and interfering with flight operations — charges that carry up to 20 years in prison
A Kansas man is facing charges after he allegedly grabbed a flight attendant and dragged them up the aisle of a plane.
Julius Jordan Priester, 24, from Kansas, was arrested and charged with assaulting a crew member on a flight leaving from Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
On May 27, Priester was onboard an American Airlines flight heading to Chicago, per the statement. About 30 minutes to an hour later, he stood up, began to take off his shirt and ran to the back of the plane yelling, “Help me.”
Prosecutors say Priester then grabbed a flight attendant, who was seated, and shouted, “you’re coming with me,” forcing them onto the ground. He then allegedly attempted to drag the flight attendant up the aisle.
Several passengers intervened and were able to get Priester back to his seat, the statement said. Authorities say he continued acting erratically and making incoherent statements.
This led to the plane captain declaring an emergency where they diverted the plane back to Bradley Airport. After the plane landed, Priester was removed by Connecticut State Police and taken by an ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation, the statement said.
Priester will be detained pending a bond hearing on May 30, prosecutors say. The charges of interfering with flight crew members and attendants carries a maximum term of 20 years of imprisonment.
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American Airlines said it does “not tolerate violence,” in a statement to CBS News. “We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their assistance,” the airline added.
Priester’s case is being investigated by the FBI and Connecticut State Police, the Department of Justice said in a statement.
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