An American Airlines flight from Miami to New York City became violent when a woman who flouted face mask rules allegedly assaulted a flight attendant, according to a complaint filed by federal prosecutors.
The incident happened halfway through an American Airlines Flight 1357 between Chenasia I. Campbell and the flight attendant, reports CNN.
According to a statement from American Airlines, the alleged assault occurred during the flight.
“A customer who refused to comply with the federal face mask requirement assaulted a crew member while in flight,” the statement from the airline read.
“Violence of any kind is not tolerated by American,” the statement continued.
Curtis Blessing, an airline spokesman, confirmed that the flight left Miami just before Midnight and arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport at approximately 2:14 a.m.
The complaint did not confirm whether Campbell violated a federal mask mandate. An American Airlines spokesperson told CNN that the company could not comment on the incident beyond the details outlined in the official complaint.
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According to the report, Campbell followed the flight attendant to the crew area. The incident escalated when the passenger allegedly yelled at the attendant for not collecting her garbage.
Another attendant was hit and had their hair pulled by the passenger when they tried to intervene.
Campbell then allegedly returned to the area after arguing with another passenger and reportedly said that the “cops aren’t going to do anything to me,” before hitting the flight attendant again.
The injured flight attendant “sustained scrapes to the arm and cheek, bruises to the forehead and leg ... and a strained neck,” the complaint read. The attendant refused medical assistance upon landing at the destination.
The complaint said that a crew request to the captain to make an emergency landing was not approved, but an off-duty New York City police officer was able to place the woman in hand restraints until the plane landed before being taken into custody.
A spokesperson for the prosecutors’ office reported that Campbell appeared in court on May 3 and was released on a $15,000 bond.
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