A Washington, D.C. man has been arrested for threatening flight attendants on a United Airlines plane traveling from Houston to New Jersey.
Kedus Yacob Damtew, 38, was charged with one count of interference by assault or intimidation after threatening flight attendants and crew members aboard a plane flying to Newark Liberty International Airport on June 12, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, stated in a release.
Damtew took off his shirt shortly before landing and “pushed his bare chest into a flight attendant” before “pinning” the attendant “against the aircraft exit door” as he shouted threats of physical violence, according to documents, per the release.
A United Airplanes jet.
Gary Hershorn/Getty
Damtew shouted more threats of physical violence and “punched an aircraft oven” before catching up with the flight attendant as he continued to shout at her “and threw a cup of water,” the release added.
The flight attendants and crew were helped by several passengers in securing Damtew in flex cuffs and he was relocated to the back of the plane before landing.
Damtew appeared in Washington, DC federal court on Tuesday, Dec. 10 where he was released. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
“U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Edward T. Cetnar, for its assistance,” the release said.
“The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
