The day after the incident, the union representing Southwest flight attendants said passenger misconduct has reached an “intolerable level.” The in-flight incidents and other working conditions, the union said, left its ranks “weary, exhausted, frustrated and forgotten. Quinonez’s lawyer declined to comment when contacted by CNN. We are not going to tolerate violence or interference with the flight crew, and we will pursue criminal charges against those who break the law.” Southwest Airlines flight attendant was punched in face and lost two teeth. ![]() “It’s inexcusable for anyone to use violence on an airplane for any reason, particularly toward a flight attendant who is there to keep all the passengers safe. flight attendant, as there were thousands instances of people violating. The flight attendant who was assaulted was simply doing her job to ensure the safety of all passengers aboard the plane,” said Acting United States Attorney Randy Grossman. The flight attendant was left with three chipped teeth, she needed stitches on her face, and according to the plea agreement, she also “had a bruise in the shape of fingers on her right forearm.” According to a local CBS affiliate, she was released after paying a $35,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on September 30.Passenger accused of punching Southwest flight attendant faces federal chargesĪ male passenger jumped between Quinonez, according to the plea agreement, and the flight attendant, who was visibly shaken, and instructed Quinonez to sit down. Quinonez now faces felony battery charges. The agency also noted that since January 1, there have been roughly 1,900 reports of passengers refusing to comply with mask regulations. This is the same number of cases the agency has initiated in the entire previous decade. 5 hr delay so farbut I don’t worry about what I can’t control & just enjoy the precious time w/Koki, our future hope PeacefulMind pic. “This unprecedented number of incidents has reached an intolerable level, with passenger noncompliance events also becoming more aggressive in nature,” Lyn Montgomery, the union president for Southwest flight attendants, wrote in a recent letter to the Southwest chief executive.Įarlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration said it is currently reviewing 1,300 incidents of “unruly behavior” that have been reported since February. Just witnessed a woman punch a flight attendant. Court records said she also grabbed the woman’s hair before other passengers stepped in. Incidents of passengers attacking flight attendants have escalated as flight crews have been tasked with enforcing on-flight mask mandates. Video shared with FOX40 then shows Quinonez stand up and punch the flight attendant in the face. In a statement to t he Washington Post, Southwest spokesperson Mainz condemned the incident saying, “We do not condone or tolerate verbal or physical abuse of our flight crews, who are responsible for the safety of our passengers.” Quinonez has now been permanently banned from Southwest airlines, according to USA Today. In May, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant suffered injuries to their face, including the loss of two teeth, following an assault involving a passenger. District Court Judge Todd Robinson sentenced Quinonez to 15 months in federal custody. She claimed the attendant “was nothing but provocative, leaning over on the aisle seat” during the flight, adding that the attendant was “very rude and unprofessional the whole flight.” However, she said the attendant’s behavior didn’t excuse the attack. Last month an American Airlines flight attendant reportedly sustained a concussion and had to be removed from a plane by stretcher after she was allegedly punched in the face by a passenger. WATCH RELATED: Woman who punched flight attendant pleads guilty. The passenger who recorded the fight said the physical altercation was the result of a “two-sided” argument that lasted throughout the course of the flight. In the video, Quinonez is wearing a mask but it isn’t covering her nose, per CDC guidelines. ![]() Chris Mainz, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson, told the Sacramento Bee that Quinonez “repeatedly ignored standard in-flight instructions” and “became verbally and physically abusive upon landing.” Mainz said the alleged attack was “not mask-related.” However, the passenger who recorded the incident said the physical altercation occurred after the attendant told Quinonez to put her mask back on. It’s unclear what exactly incited the incident. Upon landing, Quinonez was arrested for battery, per a statement from the Port of San Diego Harbor Police. The video shows the passenger, 28-year-old Vyvianna Quinonez, punching the attendant in the face and grabbing her hair before another passenger steps between the two to break up the fight. Photo: Felipe I Santiago/Shutterstock / Felipe I SantiagoĪ video from a recent Southwest flight from Sacramento to San Diego captured a passenger attacking a flight attendant, leaving the attendant’s face bloodied and causing her to lose two teeth.
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