An American Airlines passenger attacked a crew member mid-flight and dragged them up the plane aisle, prosecutors allege.
Julius Jordan Priester, 24, of Kansas, was arrested and charged with the assault of a crew member on a Chicago-bound flight Tuesday night, according to the Department of Justice.
His alleged act of violence occurred less than an hour after Flight 3359 departed Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut.
Prosecutors say Priester stood up, started removing his shirt, and ran to the back of the plane yelling ‘help me’.
He then grabbed a seated flight attendant and shouted ‘you’re coming with me’ as he ‘forcefully’ brought the crew member to the ground, prosecutors allege.
He then tried to drag the crew member up the aisle, but several other passengers stepped in and were able to get Priester back to his seat.
After the alleged assault, Priester continued to act erratically and made incoherent remarks, the DOJ states.
The pilot was forced to return the plane to Bradley Airport and make an emergency landing.
Priester was removed from the plane by Connecticut State Police and transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
He is detained pending a bond hearing that is scheduled for today.
Julius Jordan Priester, 24, of Kansas, was arrested and charged with assault of a crew member on a Chicago-bound American Airlines flight Tuesday night (file photo)
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