An international Passenger assaulted a Flight Attendant in flight after the Flight Attendant unknowingly stepped on the Passenger's foot which was behind a curtain in business class where the passenger did not belong because he had a coach seat.
Synopsis
An international Passenger assaulted a Flight Attendant in flight after the Flight Attendant unknowingly stepped on the Passenger's foot which was behind a curtain in business class where the passenger did not belong because he had a coach seat.
Narrative
The long and short of it is that a passenger assaulted me from behind in the first class galley in front of Flight Attendant #5 and the #1 Flight Attendant. He came up the left side of the plane as Flight Attendant #5 had described it to find me and assault me by throwing his elbow into my back side pushing me a few feet forward. It happened so fast I reacted to Flight Attendant #5; what just happened. They both commented that I was just assaulted. I went to the passenger; who said I stepped on his foot; which I guess must have been protruding under the curtain into business class. I said; 'you cannot just assault a flight crew.' Flight Attendant #1 came over and got the same response from him. The Captain was informed and he radioed ahead for the flight to be met. He told Flight Attendant #1 not to use the passenger misconduct form because he already assaulted me. Anyway the flight was met and he was taken off the plane by various police officers including customs. We were all questioned and then told that they could do nothing because it happened in International airspace. The FBI was called. An hour later no FBI; they then called one of the officers and told him that he will call me in the next 24 hours to see if I want to pursue assault charges.
Second reporter narrative
As we are completing dinner service in Business Class; I was standing by galley in the aisle aircraft left. Flight Attendant #5 was near the ovens but towards front of the galley and Flight Attendant #8 was standing facing forward right next to galley aircraft right when suddenly; he was pushed with great deal of force forward by a man that used his side and elbows to a physical force that Flight Attendant #8 almost fell in the galley; landing half way from where he was standing and holding himself against the counter forward of him. In disbelief and startled by the action; that had no reason or prior disturbance or complaint from either the passenger or the Flight Attendant and realize that not only the passenger was not seated in business class but had walked from his seat (which wasn't his seat) to attack Flight Attendant #8. Flight Attendant #8 and I went to where he was sitting and confronted such act. He said that Flight Attendant #8 had stepped on him on purpose as he (Flight Attendant #8) was doing his service in the business class cabin and his foot was under the curtain as he stretched his leg; which he complaint he had a problem and as he (Mr. X) started 'a war on his own.' I decided that no explanation of his would justify the assault; which not only had a prior situation but many facts that aggravated his assault. I right away went to talk to the Captain; which asked to also talk to Flight Attendant #8 and it was decided that we would deal with the authorities and resolve the physical attack on the Flight Attendant upon landing and Local Police since Mr. X didn't continue on the attack and seemed that regretted his action; even though; never expressed that verbally. Insisting on the fact that he had been stepped on purpose and later stated he was kicked on purpose. He crossed all the way to business class from his seat which wasn't his seat to attack Flight Attendant #8 with no prior complaint and simply did what he thought was a 'good lesson' for Flight Attendant #8; who was unaware of any wrong doing was caught by surprise. Mr. X's original seat was XXB which also only made his attack on Flight Attendant #8 worse; his action by no means is justified; he returns to XXB throughout the rest of the flight. I was told he had 4 bottles of wine. I don't know if Flight Attendant #8's back is hurt but calling for authorities upon landing was the only right thing to do; after such an attack. He was taken by Homeland Security and Local Police Department when we landed and since Mr. X was on XXB I thought passengers could deplane and upon Mr. X's approach to the door I would let them know. But I was told that the procedure always is to have all passengers seated and they would enter aircraft and take the passenger. So at that point I made a PA and asked all passengers to please take their seats for a moment which they quickly did as they saw Law Enforcement walking into aircraft. They proceeded to aft aircraft and took Mr. X. and also our statements. All they told me that the situation would be taken by the FBI since it wasn't US jurisdiction; where and when it happened. I didn't use any flex cuffs or force after talking to the attacker since he was very cooperative and didn't seem to be anymore threat thru the flight. Only told main cabin flight attendants to not serve him anymore alcohol and keep an eye on him and upon checking on him throughout the flight he was sleeping. I do not know the outcome after he was taken into custody. Nothing would justify such an attack on a crew member.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.