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Unruly American Airlines passenger accused of punching flight attendant, spitting

Keith Edward Fagiana is charged with interfering with a flight crew. DALLAS - An American Airlines passenger faces criminal charges after reportedly assaulting a flight attendant. https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/american-airlines-flight-diverted-to-amarillo-fbi-investigating-flight-1497-dallas-bozeman-rick-husband-amarillo-international-airport-remove-plane-fbi-custody This happened on a flight Wednesday that departed from Dallas and was heading to Bozeman, Montana. That flight had to be diverted. Law enforcement officers at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport were waiting for American Airlines flight 1497 Wednesday after it was diverted to the airport with an unruly passenger. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Keith Edward Fagiana assaulted a male flight attendant shortly after the flight departed from DFW Airport, bound for Montana. "Felony convictions under federal law can carry with them, not only fines and penalties, but very severe and lengthy periods of jail time," said Ron McCallum, who is a pilot and aviation attorney not involved in this case. Fagiana is charged with interference with a flight crew. As one might expect, McCallum said diverting a commercial flight is major ordeal. "At that point, the lock in place protocol goes into effect, which is where the flight crews isolated from the rest of the aircraft at that point. And during this particular flight, the flight crew is in communication with air traffic control, which is above and beyond a local tower," he explained. "They would have reported an emergency which gives them clearance and authority to navigate directly to the nearest suitable airport for landing."

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An American Airlines flight from Texas to Montana was forced to divert after a passenger allegedly punched a flight attendant who asked him to stop kicking a fellow flier’s seat.

Keith Edward Fagiana, of Las Vegas, was aboard Flight 1497 from Dallas to Bozeman on Wednesday when another passenger complained that he was “violently kicking” their seat, WPDE reported.

When the male flight attendant told Fagiana to stop, he allegedly “yelled expletives” at the crew member and punched him in the stomach four times, according to a criminal complaint cited by the outlet.

The flight attendant and other passengers tackled Fagiana and placed him in flex cuffs.

The pilot declared a level two threat at about 1:50 p.m. and diverted to Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, where Fagiana was met by law enforcement and charged with interference with a flight crew.

Passenger Dazia Poland shot video of Fagiana being led off the flight, which landed at 2:20 p.m. and took off for Bozeman about 30 minutes later, according to ABC 7 Amarillo.

Poland said another passenger told her Fagiana was spitting at people, adding that she saw him banging his head against the window.

Fagiana complained that the flex cuffs were hurting, but when airport police  removed the plastic restraints to switch them with regular handcuffs, he allegedly kicked a cop in the groin and spit on other officers, WPDE reported, citing the complaint.

He admitted to fighting with the officers because he didn’t want to be arrested, according to the outlet.

Fagiana told the FBI he did not remember what happened on the plane but admitted that he drank Captain Morgan rum at various bars before the flight.

When cops took off the flex cuffs Fagiana kicked an airport police officer in the groin and spit on other officers, according to the criminal complaint.

Fagiana told the FBI he did not remember what happened on the plane but admitted that he drank Captain Morgan rum at various bars before the flight.

“Acts of violence are not tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation,” American Airlines told ABC 7.

A spokesman for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants told Fox 4 in a statement: “Yesterday, another Flight Attendant was assaulted by a customer. Our priority is to care for the affected crewmember. This violent behavior must stop.”

The FBI and the FAA are investigating the incident.

Ron McCallum, a pilot and aviation attorney not involved in this case, told Fox 4 that the incident should amount to a felony.

“Felony convictions under federal law can carry with them, not only fines and penalties, but very severe and lengthy periods of jail time,” he told the outlet.

“In this case, it’s escalated to violence. That’s a felony under federal law,” McCallum added.

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