An American Airlines flight was diverted mid-flight to a Texas airport this week after a passenger punched a flight attendant multiple times and assaulted at least one police officer, according to court documents.
The plane, which was flying from Dallas to Bozeman, Montana, landed at an airport in Amarillo on Wednesday after the flight crew declared a Level 2 threat due to a physical attack, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District Texas states, citing an affidavit from an FBI agent involved in the arrest.
Keith Edward Fagiana, 61, was escorted from the plane – American Airlines Flight 1497 – by police and charged with obstructing a flight crew, the complaint says.
The incident began when a passenger complained that Fagiana was violently kicking his chair, court documents say. Fagiana then yelled profanities at a flight attendant who asked him not to kick the chair, the complaint says. He then punched the flight attendant in the stomach, the documents say.
The flight attendant was punched three more times by Fagiana before other passengers helped physically restrain him, the complaint says. The flight attendant handcuffed him with flexible handcuffs and strapped him to a seat to wait for police when he landed, the documents say.
After landing at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, police entered the plane and escorted Fagiana off the plane, documents said. He complained that the flexible handcuffs hurt him, so officers replaced the restraints with steel handcuffs.
Keith Edward Fagiana's booking photo. – Randall County Sheriff's Office
“While he was changing handcuffs, Fagiana kicked one of the Amarillo Airport police officers in the groin and spit on the escorting officers,” the documents state.
During a police interview, Fagiana admitted to arguing with officers after he was removed from the plane because he did not want to be arrested, the complaint says.
He also claimed he couldn't remember anything that happened on the flight and said he drank a few “Captain Morgans” at various bars before the flight, documents said.
According to a statement from American Airlines, the flight continued its journey and departed Amarillo Airport shortly thereafter.
“Acts of violence will not be tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation,” the statement said.
CNN could not determine as of Friday whether Fagiana has received legal representation.
CNN's Sara Smart and Asher Moskowitz contributed to this report.
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