ON DSCNT ON BOARD A300; PAX ASSAULTED CABIN ATTENDANT WHEN REFUSED WINE. AUTHS MET ACFT IN MIA AND QUESTIONED AND RELEASED PAX TO CONTINUE TO LA PAZ.

Narrative

PAX CAME TO AFT GALLEY AND ASKED FOR WINE. I ASKED HER AGE. SHE BECAME VERBALLY ABUSIVE SAYING 'WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW; DO YOU WANT ME?' AS SHE 'RUBBED' HER BODY. I THEN TOLD HER TO TAKE HER SEAT. SHE SAID TO 'KISS HER ASS.' I TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS VIOLATING A FEDERAL LAW IN NOT COMPLYING WITH CREW MEMBER INSTRUCTION. SHE THEN FLIPPED ME HER MIDDLE FINGER AND SAID 'F--- YOU.' I AGAIN ADVISED HER TO TAKE HER SEAT. SHE THEN STRUCK MY FACE WITH THE HEEL OF HER HAND IN AN UPWARD MOTION. I LOST MY BAL FOR A SECOND OR SO AND REGAINED MY COMPOSURE; JUST IN TIME TO GRASP HER HANDS; WHICH WERE COMING UPON ME TO STRIKE ME AGAIN. I JUST HELD ON UNTIL I FELT HER CALM DOWN SOME; THEN LET GO WHEN OTHER FLT ATTENDANTS ARRIVED. ONE FLT ATTENDANT WAS PRESENT AT THE TIME; AND JUST BEFORE PAX STRUCK ME -- SHE THEN FLED IN A PANIC. I LATER ASKED WHY SHE LEFT; SHE SAID SHE WAS 'AFRAID.' I BELIEVE CAUSE OF PROB TO BE INTOXICATED PAX (UPON BOARDING). MORE VIGILANCE SHOULD BE DONE BY BOARDING CREW MEMBERS AND GND PERSONNEL; AND DENY BOARDING TO THOSE SUSPECT. I THINK IN LIGHT OF THIS GROWING PROB WE SHOULD BE TAUGHT SELF DEFENSE. WE HAVE PROCS FOR OTHER EMERS; WHY NOT THIS? OR AIRLINES SHOULD PLACE A SECURITY GUARD ON EVERY FLT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT THE PAX THAT STRUCK HER WAS 17 YRS OLD AND ARRIVED IN MIA WITH NO VISA. SHE WAS TRAVELING ON TO LA PAZ. THE RPTR REQUESTED THAT THE AUTHS MEET THE ACFT WITH FULL COOPERATION FROM THE FLC. IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS MET THE ACFT IN MIA; AND ALSO COUNTY POLICE. RPTR STATES THAT OTHER PAX ABOARD THEIR FLT HAD SEEN THE 17 YR OLD DRINKING IN SANTO DOMINGO BEFORE BOARDING THE FLT. RPTR FEELS THE ALCOHOL INDUCED THE INCIDENT AS THE ASSAULT OCCURRED WHEN THE PAX WAS REFUSED ALCOHOL ON DSCNT INTO MIA.