An Orange County, California man is facing Federal charges, following his assault on a crew member of American Airlines flight #AA337 which was heading to Los Angeles (LAX) from Cabo San Lucas (SDJ) charge, following an assault on an air crew member on 21 September.
The Department of Justice advises in a statement released today, 22 September, that the passenger, identified as, Alexander Tung Cuu Le, 33 of Westminster, California, faces up to a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for his interference with a flight crew member.
Passengers on the flight caught Le attacking the flight attendant midflight. According to the affidavit filed in support of the federal charges (7-page pdf), Le assaulted a flight attendant when he punched the flight attendant in the back of the head. The FBI interviewed the flight crew, as well as a number of passenger witnesses and learned, that approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, LE exited his seat in 17A and grabbed one of the flight attendants from behind and asked for coffee. Le was asked to wait. Le then grabbed both of the flight attendant’s shoulders from behind, which caused the flight attendant to step back and raise his hands up in a defensive position. Le then walked toward the front of the plane.
Le, loitering now in the first class cabin of AA377, was asked to return to his assigned seat. He did not comply, the affidavit reads. The affidavit continues how Le then assumed a “fighting stance” clenching both fists and facing the flight attendant, taking a swing and missing. The flight attendant headed toward the front of the plane and Le rushed toward the flight attendant, punching him in the back of the head with a closed fist.
Tweet from @Saadmohseni of the assault
As Le fled toward the back of the plane, three passengers took him down near the exit row (row 11). He was subdued and handcuffed and legcuffed in flex-cuffs. He was then moved to seat 8F (window) and continued to be non-compliant, he was restrained in his seat by the flight crew. Upon arrival at LAX, Le was arrested and the crew member who had been assaulted was transported to the hospital.
Tweet from @Smallzy – of the restraining of Le
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