“Worst assault in history” – that’s how the CEO of American Airlines has responded to a recent incident involving a cabin crew member

An American Airlines flight attendant has been assault onboard a coast-to-coast flight, with the CEO of American Airlines labelling the incident as the “worst assault in the airline’s history.”

The American Airlines flight 976 was diverted to Denver on Wednesday, after a passenger became physically abusive towards a flight attendant.

The flight from New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport was bound for Santa Ana, California, when mid-flight a man become aggressive in an “unprovoked attack,” according to the airline.

The passenger went to the back of the aircraft and punched the flight attendant twice in the face and broke her nose.

The head of American Airlines says the incident on Wednesday “is one of the worst displays of unruly behaviour we’ve ever witnessed”

In a video statement posted on social media, CEO of American Airlines Doug Parker stated the airline is supporting the injured flight attendant and had now banned the man accused of assaulting her from flying on the airline again.

The FBI says it has opened an investigation into the incident, but confirmed no arrests have yet been made.

The U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is also investigating the incident.

Zero-Tolerance policy for unruly behaviour

The FAA adopted a zero-tolerance policy for unruly passengers on board flights earlier this year.

The agency stated back in August it had issued more than $1 million in fines to unruly passengers in 2021.

One $45,000 fine, revealed in August, was against a passenger accused of throwing his luggage at another passenger and, while lying on the aisle floor, “grabbing a flight attendant by the ankles and putting his head up her skirt.”