Kansas Man Allegedly Assaulted American Airlines Flight Attendant, Dragging Them Down Aisle

A Kansas man is facing federal charges for allegedly throwing an American Airlines flight attendant to the ground and dragging them down the aisle of an aircraft midflight on Tuesday, officials said.

Julius Jordan Priester, 24, of Wichita, was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 3359 departing Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday bound for Chicago when the incident allegedly occurred, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

About 30 minutes into the flight, Priester allegedly got up and began to remove his shirt, then ran to the back of the plane yelling, “Help me.”

At the back of the plane, he allegedly “grabbed” a seated flight attendant, shouted “you’re coming with me,” and “forcefully” brought the flight attendant to the ground, prosecutors said. He then allegedly attempted to drag the flight attendant up the aisle of the aircraft.

Passengers intervened to assist the flight attendant. Priester was returned to his seat, but continued acting “erratically” and making “incoherent statements,” prosecutors said.

The captain declared an emergency and the flight returned to Bradley International Airport, where Connecticut State Police removed Priester from the plane. Priester was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation.

Priester was arrested and charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.