FLT ATTENDANT RPT; B757; YVR-JFK; IRATE PAX STRUCK A FLT ATTENDANT IN THE FACE; CAUSING INJURY. CAPT DIVERTED TO MSP TO HAVE PAX REMOVED AND ARRESTED.

Narrative

I WAS IN NO WAY INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE BACK OF MAIN CABIN; AND I WAS NOT A WITNESS TO IT. FROM WHAT I LATER LEARNED; A FLT ATTENDANT WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY A FEMALE PAX IN THE AISLE NEAR THE AFT GALLEY. THE INCIDENT WAS RPTED TO THE CAPT AND HE MADE THE DECISION TO LAND AT MSP AND HAVE THE PAX REMOVED BY FEDERAL AUTHS. WE REMAINED ON THE GND APPROX 1 HR AND THEN PROCEEDED TO JFK. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT ALL THE INFO SHE HEARD WAS SECONDHAND; AS SHE WAS WORKING IN FIRST CLASS. SHE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A LINE TO THE AFT LAVATORIES; AND; ON THE B757; THE LAVATORIES ARE NEXT TO; AND ACROSS FROM; THE AFT GALLEY; MAKING MOVEMENT OF SERVING CARTS INTO AND OUT OF THE GALLEY AND INTO THE AISLE; WHERE THE PAX ARE LINED UP FOR THE LAVATORY; NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THE B757 HAS THE NARROWEST AISLES OF ALMOST ALL THE LARGE PAX AIRPLANES. THE FLT ATTENDANT WHO WAS STRUCK HAD ASKED THE WOMAN (WHO HIT HER) TO MOVE FOR THE CART TO MANEUVER BY SEVERAL TIMES; AND ON THE THIRD PASS BY; THE WOMAN BECAME ENRAGED AND HIT THE FLT ATTENDANT SO HARD THAT HER GLASSES FLEW OFF HER FACE; HURTING HER NOSE IN THE PROCESS. THE CAPT WAS TOLD; AND THEN HE MADE THE DECISION TO DIVERT TO MSP AND HAVE THE WOMAN ARRESTED. SHE WAS MET BY POLICE; HANDCUFFED; AND LED OFF THE AIRPLANE.