A passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Connecticut to Chicago on Tuesday night is now facing charges after he allegedly shoved a flight attendant to the ground and tried to haul them up the aisle in a chaotic manner, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In an official announcement, the DOJ stated that Julius Jordan Priester, 24, from Wichita, Kansas, was apprehended and accused of disrupting flight crew operations. This charge is associated with a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Priester was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 3359, which departed from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, at about 9:30 p.m., en route to Chicago.
Court documents filed Wednesday allege that, during the flight, Priester stood up, began to take his shirt off and ran toward the back of the plane, yelling, “Help me!”
Julius Jordan Priester appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, Conn. (iStock)
“On May 27, American Eagle Flight 3359, operated by Envoy, with service from Hartford (BDL) to Chicago (ORD), returned to BDL due to a disruptive customer,” the airline said. “We do not tolerate violence, and we thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their assistance.”
On Wednesday, Priester appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, Connecticut. Priester was ordered detained pending a bond hearing scheduled for Friday.
The FBI is investigating with assistance from the Connecticut State Police.
