Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Kedus Yacob Damtew, 38, of Washington DC has been accused of removing his shirt and pressing his bare chest against a flight attendant while threatening physical violence and punching an oven door in the galley. The incident occurred on July 12th on United Airlines flight UA2732 from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
The outburst happened shortly before the aircraft was set to land. Damtew allegedly went into the forward galley, struck up a conversation, removed his shirt, and pinned the flight attendant against an emergency exit door before throwing a cup of water at her. He then proceeded to follow her into the back of the plane. Her face was reportedly covered in saliva from his shouting at her in close range. As this unfolded, another flight attendant requested assistance of other passengers over the airplane’s public address (PA) system. They assisted in flex cuffs and assisted in keeping him contained until the flight landed at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Damtew was charged by complaint in Newark federal court with one count of interference with flight crew members by assault or intimidation. This carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Anthony’s Take: Luckily, this incident did not get any more violent and Damtew was restrained before landing. Hopefully, he’ll be banned from United and face other consequences if found guilty.
(Image Credits: United Airlines and Jimmy Woo.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
