A Delta Air Lines passenger was arrested on Wednesday July 2nd after he allegedly attacked a flight attendant and put her in a chokehold on a flight from Atlanta to New Orleans. The passenger, identified as Nelson Montgomery, 39, also injured himself and the flight attendant with a sharp object, according to authorities.
The incident occurred on Delta flight 2432, which landed at Louis Armstrong International Airport around 4 p.m. local time. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Montgomery was subdued by several passengers and held until deputies arrived at the aircraft to arrest him. He was treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries and booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on charges of aggravated battery, disturbing the peace and simple battery.
The flight attendant suffered two superficial lacerations and was treated on the scene, the sheriff’s office said. A witness told local station WVUE that Montgomery threatened to cut the flight attendant’s head with what appeared to be a shard of broken glass. The witness said it took eight people to restrain Montgomery until the police arrived.
Delta said in a statement that it has zero tolerance for unruly behavior on its aircraft and in its airports. “Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our people and our customers,” the statement added.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent episodes involving passengers and crew members on U.S. airlines. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been more than 3,600 reports of unruly passengers this year, mostly related to mask compliance.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, nbcnews.com, nypost.com
