A terrifying incident unfolded midair when a Kansas man allegedly dragged a flight attendant down the aisle during a flight.
Julius Jordan Priester, 24, was on an American Airlines flight from Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, to Chicago on Tuesday, May 27 when about 30 to 60 minutes into the flight, Priester stood up, removed his shirt, and ran toward the back of the plane shouting for help.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice shared a day later, Priester then grabbed a seated flight attendant and forcefully dragged them across the cabin, shouting, “You’re coming with me.”
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As the situation escalated, several passengers quickly intervened, managing to restrain the man and return him to his seat. However, Priester’s behavior remained erratic, with incoherent statements and agitation. The captain then declared an emergency, resulting in the flight being diverted back to Bradley International Airport.
Once on the ground, Priester was removed by Connecticut State Police and taken to a hospital for evaluation. According to the statement, he faces charges of assaulting a crew member and interfering with flight crew members, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Priester was detained, and a bond hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 30.
American Airlines stated, “We do not tolerate violence,” in a statement to CBS Newsand thanked both the crew and passengers for their professionalism in handling the situation. The FBI and Connecticut State Police are investigating the matter, and authorities are working to determine the cause of Priester’s erratic behavior during the flight.
