Airline Passenger Arrested After Choking Flight Attendant, Causing Emergency Diversion

17.09.2024 - 21:11 / travelpulse.com / North America / Laurie Baratti / Frontier Airlines

Federal charges have been lodged against a California man after he allegedly attempted to strangle a flight attendant and stated that he was “going to kill everybody”, causing his plane to divert. The mid-air disturbance took place aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Orange County's John Wayne Airport to San Francisco International Airport on September 9.   

30-year-old Charles Angel Salva from Fremont initially appeared before the court on Wednesday and was charged with “interference with flight crew members and attendants”, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. 

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff when flight attendants noticed that oxygen masks in one row had been removed from the overhead compartment. Upon investigation, they discovered Salva with his hand inside the compartment. A fellow passenger who witnessed the event told the police that Salva seemed claustrophobic and “like he wanted to get off the plane”.    

The witness said that Salva also got his hand caught in the overhead compartment after pulling out the oxygen masks before a fellow passenger helped him free his hand. He then began yelling out obscenities, as well as shouting things like, “We are all going to hell” and “This airplane is going down”. He proceeded to grab several fellow passengers before running to the rear of the plane, where flight attendants attempted to subdue him. The court affidavit alleges that, at that point, Salva pushed a crew member and stated that he was going to kill everybody on the plane. 

“Passengers helped restrain Salva, who broke out of flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt,” according to the release. “During the incident, Salva kicked one flight attendant approximately six times in the leg, causing apparent bruising and swelling, which required medical attention.” Another crew member, whom Salva allegedly attempted to choke, also sustained two small marks on their neck. 

Given the severity of the situation, and the fact that the crew felt unsafe attempting to get Salva back into his seat, the pilot decided to divert the flight to Ontario International Airport. The plane landed there safely at around 6 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told CNN, adding that it will launch a probe into the incident. The FBI and Ontario Police Department will also be conducting their own investigations. 

If convicted of the charges with which he stands accused, Salva would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, court records indicate, with his preliminary hearing set for