Lexington (Kentucky): A slurring, belligerent passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Lexington to Charlotte in the United States, who had consumed too much Jack Daniels, was banned from flying after his antics on the plane resulted in injury to a flight attendant.
The man, one Michael Kerr, was caught on cellphone video confronting the flight crew just after the flight had landed, reports the Washington Post.
According to the report, Kerr refused to sit down when crew members asked passengers to remain seated as the plane taxied to the gate after landing. Instead, Kerr continued standing and threatened to break a flight attendant's jaw.
Moments later, Kerr rushed to the front of the plane and attempted to shove his way past a flight attendant, using his leg and upper body to press into her while she resisted. Eventually, he succeeded in shoving her to the ground, which enraged the pilot.
"Enough!" the pilot yelled. "You don't put your hands on my flight attendant! Enough!"
But this did not deter Kerr, who claimed that he was going to put the incident on Facebook and that they were ‘online’, even as the flight crew tried to subdue him using a seat-belt strap.
Police arrived 15 to 20 minutes later, and apologised to the other passengers while trying to control Kerr. The man punched, kicked and continued to hurl abuses even as he was dragged off the flight, said the report.
Kerr was charged with being intoxicated and disruptive, assault on a female, communicating threats and interfering with the duties of a flight crew or attendant, according to the Observer.
He was later released on a $25,000 bond, but banned from flying as he is awaiting trial.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA blamed alcohol for the ruckus created by Kerr, stating that such incidents had become more frequent due to flight delays and cancellations – which enables passengers to go to an airport bar and get drunk while waiting for their plane.
The injured flight attendant has been forced to go to physical therapy multiple times a week to address neck and back pain suffered during the incident, said the report.
